Tiny Life Journal - I took a walk in the woods yesterday in search of pawpaws. I didn’t find any but I did come across a few Cardinal flowers in and near the dry creek bed. A nice surprise! I’d seen one several years ago in the area but not since.

What’s notable is that these flowers are a favorite food source of the ruby throated hummingbird which, while in flight and feeding, seem to resemble the flower. There are three lower petals that look like the tail of the bird, two petals each stretched upwards and sidways from the center that look like wings. The central pistil looks like the body and head of the bird. If you’ve ever seen a hummingbird feeding you may note the similarity when viewing the flower from the front or side.

A close-up image of a stem of ten vibrant red flowers. The flowers are interesting and somewhat complex. Each looks somewhat like a bird in flight. There are three lower petals that look like the tail of a bird, two petals each stretched upwards and sidways from the middle that look like wings. The central pistil looks like the body and head of the bird. What’s notable is that these flowers are an important and favorite food source of the ruby throated hummingbird which, while in flight and feeding, will resemble the flower. A close-up image of a stem of ten vibrant red flowers. The flowers are interesting and somewhat complex. Each looks somewhat like a bird in flight. There are three lower petals that look like the tail of a bird, two petals each stretched upwards and sidways from the middle that look like wings. The central pistil looks like the body and head of the bird. What’s notable is that these flowers are an important and favorite food source of the ruby throated hummingbird which, while in flight and feeding, will resemble the flower.