FEEDING THE JOY - Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Have you ever been startled by the buzz of a hummingbird that showed up seemingly out of nowhere? It can be a little unnerving to say the least, especially when they look you in the eyes. These magical creatures are the most skillful flyers in the bird realm. They can fly forward at lightning speeds, backward, up, down, side to side, and they can hover. They are so agile and quick that they are fearless and don't seem to be the prey of any other bird or animal.
The Medicine Cards teach that the hummingbird brings joy and beauty, and teaches us to enjoy the magic and nectar of life. Hummers have a special place in my heart as they are deeply connected with the faery realm and especially the flowers. An iridescent beauty usually shows up at some point when I am making a Mother Essence. I have even had a hummingbird guide me to the flowers I was looking for. To learn more about the power and mystical properties of hummingbirds, I suggest reading about them in "Animal Speak" by Ted Andrews.
On the more practical side, hummingbirds are wonderful pollinators and they eat lots of insects. So having them around your garden is truly a blessing in more ways than one. There are two kinds of hummers that are common in our area and frequent my feeders, Calliope (greenish) and Rufus (redish). Occasionally, one of the other 300 species may show up but one has to be on their toes to notice.
For those who have not experienced the joys of inviting hummingbirds to your home, I suggest purchasing a glass feeder (you can get them at Longs for $10). It is VERY important to clean your feeder often with chlorine bleach as hummers can be susceptible to microbial infection. Instead of buying commercial feed, here's a simple recipe you can make inexpensively: 2 cups boiling water, pour into a Pyrex measuring cup, add 1/2 cup white sugar, mix until dissolved, let cool, pour into clean feeder and hang (under an eave or tree). Enjoy the inspiration, joy and delight of these laughing, playful beings.
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2000 - 2007 Holly Beatie. The entire content of this article is the intellectual property of Holly Beatie.