Anonymous wrote:I'm out side now. Next door neighbor has a ton of them. We have none. It's our first summer here, so I don't know if the lawn has ever been sprayed or anything (it's not a particularly great looking lawn, so I doubt it). Sad I have none. No hummingbirds either, despite seeing them in the area and keeping up with my feeder.

They say it helps to plant native bushes around the perimeter of your lawn, as well as native perennials. Last year I planted a summersweet that unfortunately did not survive, but I noticed a lot of the lightening bugs about its base. So that might be a good bush choice.

Don't give up on the hummingbirds. They are nesting now, so a bit scarce, but once the babies can leave their nests, they will come out.

My experience is that they come for the flowers and stay for the feeder. If you have room and there is sun, consider a combination of Hot Lips salvia, Vermillionaire cuphea, and Black and Blue (or Black and Bloom) salvia near your feeder. At some nurseries now, you can get these in plants that are pretty far along so you'll have the hummingbird attracting flowers sooner.

Last year, I didn't plant until the first week of July and had hummingbirds through fall.

I'm out side now. Next door neighbor has a ton of them. We have none. It's our first summer here, so I don't know if the lawn has ever been sprayed or anything (it's not a particularly great looking lawn, so I doubt it). Sad I have none. No hummingbirds either, despite seeing them in the area and keeping up with my feeder.

Anonymous wrote:I just read yesterday that fireflies spend two years in the ground as larvae. So using any lawn chemicals to target grubs, as well as mosquito spraying, will do them in.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/seeing-fewer-fireflies-in-your-yard-you-might-be-doing-things-that-harm-them/2016/07/05/325183f8-3e48-11e6-a66f-aa6c1883b6b1_story.html?utm_term=.ebd53991453a

We definitely have fewer fireflies than we used to.

That's sad. Another reason NOT to spray the yards.

Yes, saw a handful last night!

I just read yesterday that fireflies spend two years in the ground as larvae. So using any lawn chemicals to target grubs, as well as mosquito spraying, will do them in.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/seeing-fewer-fireflies-in-your-yard-you-might-be-doing-things-that-harm-them/2016/07/05/325183f8-3e48-11e6-a66f-aa6c1883b6b1_story.html?utm_term=.ebd53991453a

We definitely have fewer fireflies than we used to.

Anonymous wrote:I love your subject line. You never see the word "gloaming" used anymore and it fit so well with your post. Made me happy. Thanks.

Looking forward to seeing fireflies near me.

Same here!

Anonymous wrote:I love your subject line. You never see the word "gloaming" used anymore and it fit so well with your post. Made me happy. Thanks.

Looking forward to seeing fireflies near me.

Yes! I was just going to say this. Fireflies are always a sign of early summer to me. I forget about them all winter, and it is this little jolt of joy when I see the first one of the year. Still waiting.

They've started arriving in increasing numbers in my yard. I love watching them rise up at twilight and then light up the treetops as the night progresses. And then all too soon they're gone. One of my favorite parts of summer.

I love your subject line. You never see the word "gloaming" used anymore and it fit so well with your post. Made me happy. Thanks.

Looking forward to seeing fireflies near me.

I saw 2 tonight!

I saw 2 in my backyard! Such a lovely sign of summer.

Saw three tonight - first sighting of the year!

I saw 1. Just 1.

No I haven’t seen one. I’ll be on the lookout, they make me so happy.

Last week before the rains came, I saw a lone firefly flitting about. No firefly joy in the days of rain.

But this evening, they came out just around the official time of sunset. I spent a lovely 40 minutes on the porch reveling in them. Am hoping for even more as June rolls on.

Anyone else?