We have two hummingbird feeders hanging out back. Two different designs. The flat one is spurned; I'm been trying to figure out how to lure them, but of course that is impossible. They will have to figure out that the sugar water in there is the same as the sugar water in the teardrop.
They also make me think of my mother and D, who misses the kinds of conversations they used to have when she was alive. Every so often, my mother would say, "You know, I have a chickadee who visits the feeder. He has only one leg. I wonder how he manages?"
D would say, "Really!?! How often do you see him?"
"Every day or so."
And this would recur verbatim, every month or so, with neither one remembering that they had had this conversation before.
Although at the time, this was very exasperating, somehow, now, it is very comforting to remember.
19 comments:
These posts are so sweet and thoughtful.
I wonder if the hummingbirds just don't see the flat feeder as well...?
At least they both didin't remember, so it was a new conversation every time.
I just filled my feeder today when I saw a disappointed hummingbird leaving the empty feeder.
Dennis attracts them every year, if you put out a red cloth where they can see it from a distance, they will fly closer to investigate and see the feeders. A red t shirt will attract them, or a pot of red flowers placed where it can be seen from a distance.
I have one of those flat hummingbird feeders and I've only seen Hbirds at it 3 or 4 times. Maybe I should take Dennis' advice and sit beside it in the garden wearing a red teeshirt??
Hummingbirds in the garden..how lovely. Your garden looks beautifully green.
How nice of you to share this sweet conversation memory :-)
This post reminds me of a winter when I put out peanuts in their shells. The coal tits also didn't have a clue what they were or what to do with them, spoiled as they are nowadays with nuts in nets.
Nice memory . . .
Humming birds, mmmmm.
We often hang a red ribbon on the bottom at the beginning of the season to help them find it!
o wow that's amazing!
I can barely imagine having hummingbird feeders in your back garden... what cute little feathery swines they must be!!!
When I was in Costa Rica, I would lounge underneath the tumbercia (sp?) by the pool and get a close up view of the hummingbirds. Best part of the trip!
I will bring paper and pencil on Saturday to take notes, but I can pretty much guess how this will go: One person will show all her new yarn. We will all be jealous. One person will loudly say something about a mature subject and then notice the small children nibbling toast nearby. Knitwithcats will purchase that fancy orange soda. And the one, lone, republican will cringe when anyone mentions politics.
It is funny how we find comfort is such things.
Try adding a red ribbon on the end. That seems to work for us.
I get so excited when I see hummingbirds - I've never had much luck luring them with feeders but have had periodic luck with flowering plants - I think it's all about location, location, location!
are you going to get a chance to see lettuce while she's in the northeast? I'm bummed as the timing doesn't work for me.... terribly busy summer!
sweet, sweet story made me feel sad yet also joyous..... hugs,
I have a feeder in my back yard too, but have only seen one hummingbird so far this year.
Dennis thinks maybe the one they like has easier hovering/ or a place to land? easier drinking must be it.
We have the one on the left here in Santa Fe and although I've tried others, this one is the best.
The conversation you write about your mother is quite charming.
How lovely to have humming birds in the garden. I have just put up more bird feeders but the squirrels get them first.
So true about how things that exasperate or annoy can later be among the memories you hold most dear. A good thing to remember when participating in mother/daughter psychodrama :-)
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