Once the Columbine blooms, the hummingbirds aren't far behind.
 
     The flower, a red bell hanging from a thin, green stem, heralds the return of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, completing a journey of thousands of miles from Central America to the Northeast.
 
     These weary travelers rely on the sugary nectar of the Red Columbine to refuel.
 
     The Columbine stores its nectar on the ends of long spurs where Hummingbirds use their long tongues to reach it.
 
     As the birds drink the nectar, they pollinate the flower, benefiting both organisms.  
 
     Columbine's foliage makes an attractive groundcover once the flowers have gone and the plant can be cut to the ground. 
 
     Fun Fact: Aquilegia comes from the Latin word for eagle because of the shape of the petal.
 
     Ruby-throated Hummingbird on Red Columbine photo by Jack Dodson.