Stairway to Heaven: The Ants Go Marching One by One

Ants love sugar. They’re also incredibly resourceful. The mystery, however, is how they knew that a single Cosmo grew to just the right height this week, allowing them direct access to the heavenly meal above, out of reach just the day before.

Cosmo Meets Hummingbird Feeder

My husband fills the hummingbird feeders every few days, while I tend to the flowers below. The planter has assorted annuals, each just a few inches tall. The hummingbird feeder hangs a reasonable distance overhead. A self-seeded Cosmo popped up a few weeks ago, and quickly grew parallel to the feeder. Within a day, the ants marched up the side of the flower-pot, on to the leaves, up the stem and across the bottom of the feeder. Victory! Well…if you’re an ant.

Cosmo Stem: Bridge to Sugary Heaven

What else could I do but grab the camera and start taking pictures?

Have you ever tried photographing moving ants? It’s not easy. My patience, however paid off. As I stood to the side of the feeder, trying to get a good shot of the single Cosmo, I heard the hummers chit-chatting nearby. Pressing myself against the side of the house I stood stock still, camera poised. My shutter finger at the ready, a ruby-throated beauty came into view. What a joyful few seconds as I clicked away, sparkling red feathers catching the sunlight as the hummer sipped a meal.

Hummingbird at Feeder

Perhaps I should extend an olive branch to those opportunistic ants. Without them, I would have missed the beautiful show.

You can see all twelve hummingbird photos, by clicking on my Animoto Video Slide Show.

9 thoughts on “Stairway to Heaven: The Ants Go Marching One by One”

Clever little ants… they were probably fertilising the cosmos to make it grow quicker 🙂
You are SO lucky to have hummingbirds x

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Born To Organize | August 5, 2012 at 9:04 pm

Thank you, PJ Girl! They are charming little birds, aren’t they. They keep us entertained at the feeders.

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You’re so optimistic, I love it! I’m contantsly battling those tiny critters and you are thanking them.
I watched your hummingbird Animoto, just brilliant. I had a feeder at the lake with frequent visitors but never was able to get good pictures. That’s just awesome.

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Born To Organize | August 5, 2012 at 9:03 pm

Thanks, Boomdee! I was thrilled to get these shots. Hummingbirds are so quick and startle easily. I thought for sure he would flee when I clicked the first shot. Thanks for watching the Animoto. I have fun with those, but wish the music selection was better.

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- Boomdeeadda | August 5, 2012 at 9:18 pm
  
  Really? O, I really liked it. What was that you add in there? I’ve never heard it before.
  
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Animoto has a pre-stocked library of songs. You can’t use anything else unless you have copyright permission. I listen to snippets of many, many songs to find the one I like and that works for the slideshow. Sometimes the classic are the best, but I’ve found a few Latin numbers I like too.

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This one is McKenzie Stubbert – Coquetry. Very pretty.

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Spectacular! I love the slide show, and thought the music was quite fitting. Your yard is a neverending source of amusment! Thanks for sharing with us!

Ants can certainly be such a nuisance, though I can’t help but marvel at them. I actually have a friend who “rescues” ants when she can. She and another friend of mine are mindful to not walk on grass so as to avoid harming unseen critters. I try to be careful, but not to that extent. As compassionate as I try to be, sometimes I just have to take a deep breath, utter a heartfelt apology, and wipe a path of destruction through an invasion. Thankfully, I haven’t had to do that for quite a while!

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