Winters here are normally wet and mild. But after two relatively dry winters (last winter being very dry), the old pattern has been broken in another way: we had several nights in a row of sub-freezing temperatures.
Since it hardly ever goes below freezing, and because of the rain, we have flowers of one kind or another virtually year round. I recall our first Christmastime here, when we were invited to dinner and afterwards took a walk through the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights and decorations. But what we saw also included lots of flowers. Someone remarked that here it is already spring. That's not quite true but the scene was certainly striking to folks recently arrived from western Pennsylvania.
But this year the freeze has visibly killed the flowers in our yard, and no new flowers have appeared. That may be why the hummingbirds are sticking so close to my feeders. They're usually around more at this time of year, before they disappear some time after Valentine's Day (though I suspect they don't go far.) But this year they are around the back porch almost constantly.
I suspected there were four of them but never saw more than three at the same time. But this month I've seen four several times. One afternoon all four were even stationary at the same time--three perched on the clothesline and one on a feeder. Another day three were at the same feeder while the other flew around.
Today started sunny and mild, and when I refilled one of the feeders all four came around. They were much more concerned with each other than with me. They were flying right in front of my nose at one point, and it seemed even around me. It was dazzling.
Now in mid afternoon the wind has picked up and it's turned colder. The trees that shed their leaves have mostly just begun the process. Brown leaves are blowing by. A chilly scene of winter, anywhere.
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