Category: Hummingbirds

Enchantment, Hummingbirds, Nature’s Wisdom, Summer, Wonder

Spell of Summer

Stacey Hayes

It already feels like long summer days have arrived here in North Carolina. Dusk has brought a few twinkling fireflies, and we’ve harvested cucumbers and okra  from our little garden. While nesting season is slowing down, some songbirds are watching over their final broods. (Hello, bluebirds!)

The sun lingers longer, the air is thicker, and we are in desperate need of rain. Meanwhile, the school bus made its last trek down our road last week.

As I’ve gotten older, the spirit of summer has changed for me. I am less tolerant of heat and humidity but enjoy evening balmy breezes. My creativity seem to wane as summer’s abundance shines in full sunlight. Yet, I am open to the season’s magic and wonders…

Dusk has become my favorite time of day. The resident hummingbird and I share a rhythm of eating and watching the sun retreat behind the tree canopy. The female flits between the hummingbird feeder and her perch—a small twig on our fig tree.

In contrast to the fiery quality of a June day, dusk brings gentleness. I watch the bird’s silhouette against a muted sky and treasure this ritual at day’s end with this tiny, magical being. It’s a soothing, slowing down after a high energy day for both of us.

As I’ve written about before, summer is a season of fullness—calling for play, for adventures near and far, and, yes, for rest and sacred pauses. In that spirit, I point you to a few reflections that I’ve written over the years that touch on the sundry sentiments of summer. 

 “A Storied Shell” explores how childhood collections inspire childhood memories and storytelling. 

This piece on “Soulful Micro Seasons” reminds us to search for the small wonders in our own backyards, even when things may seem still and stagnant.

And this mini essay “Illuminate” conjures a bit of magic as I marvel at moonbeams, moths, and fireflies in a summertime state of wonder.

Finally, I leave you with a spell of summer and a poetic invitation.

Spell of Summer

by Stacey Hayes

Bees on balm,

cottontails in clover,

firefly sparkles in dimming light,

a nearly risen glowy moon.

Two squirrels with reddish tails,

childhood tales and baby ear shells. 

Magic and mystery, 

delight and predictability.

Rhythms as wonder,

swirling skies and rolling thunder,

dragonflies and dandelions,

hummingbird wings fluttering—

luminescent, transient 

sky, sun, and sea.

May what glimmers and shines

surround me,

May the scared live within me.

Wondrous, abundant season of summer.

~

A Poetic Invitation

Explore the idea of “summering” by writing a list poem that begins with:

Summering is . . .

Allow your images and imagination to flow without overthinking too much. Try writing in your favorite spot outside.

A Spell Poem:

If you are feeling a sense of enchantment, you could write a playful “Spell of Summer” poem using casual, free verse. Try describing the magic of summer in the natural world and include your hopes for the coming weeks.

Butterflies, Dragonflies, Ecospirituality, Haiku, Hummingbirds, Nature’s Symbolism

Spring’s Wings

Stacey Hayes

One of my favorite things about spring is the emergence of fanciful winged creatures—the enchanting dragonfly who metamorphosed after spending two years underwater as a nymph, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail who cocooned on the Magnolia and flutters about the treetops searching for nectar-filled flora, the Ruby Throated Hummingbird whose delicate wings traversed the non-stop flight over the Gulf of Mexico, the myriad of moths that feast on wildflowers, the solitary bee who emerged out of its winter burrow, and the Hummingbird Moth who pupated during winter underneath the leaf litter.

These wonders of nature inspire delight and awe in me. They are also rich with paradoxes: strength in smallness as the hummingbird’s tiny wings fly long distances and hover over a flower beating at 53 times per second. The delicate yet nimble dragonfly—its paper-like wings enabling it to fly upside down and backwards.

I am grateful for the gifts these creatures offer to our ecology. All except the dragonfly are vital pollinators. And dragonflies are equally important as they can eat hundreds of mosquitoes each day.

As we observe the beauty and marvels of these aviators, we can embrace the soulful gifts of inspiration and wisdom for our own journeys. For me they symbolize transformation, hope, spirit, and strength. Most importantly, they remind me to flutter, dance, and hum.

Do you identify with a winged creature? What does it symbolize for you?

You may want to explore its gifts and symbolism through a sketch, collage, or poetic form such as the Haiku (see below). Or simply savor the magical moment when you encounter one.

We can explore the season’s winged creatures through poetry such as the Haiku. This Japanese poem is only three lines with a specific number of syllables for each line (5-7-5, respectively). It also doesn’t rhyme or have a title. I am particularly drawn to the Haiku as its themes are traditionally rooted in nature and the seasons. In fact, the poem usually includes a word (a kigo) that reflects the season. I find that the boundaries of the Haiku offer spaciousness in my expression. And there is poignancy in the brevity.

A Haiku captures a moment much like a snapshot photo. In phrases and fragments we describe what we see. We offer our attention to the natural world and notice what calls out to us. Taking in that moment with our senses, we invite it to inspire our words. In the art of Haiku we express and honor what unfolds before us. 

still for a moment
lacey wings iridescent
dart, dragonfly, grace

There many ways to support and nurture our winged friends:

Hummingbirds: Consider planting native flora that attract hummingbirds or offering hummingbird food in a feeder. Learn more.

Moths: Most moths are nocturnal, so considering reducing the use of exterior lights at night. Learn more.

Butterflies: Plant pollinator-friendly plants and offer water sources in shallow dishes. Learn how to help the endangered Monarch Butterfly.

Dragonflies: Avoid the use of pesticides and herbicides on lawns, which flow into watersheds that dragonfly nymphs inhabit for 1-2 years. Learn more about a dragonfly’s lifecycle.