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.