It was the beginning of a beautiful April day in the desert. I was outside watering my thirsty plants; tomatoes, zinnia, petunias, roses and various wildflowers all bursting full of the Arizona sunshine. It had been such a long time since I was able to work in my garden. Having been out of town caring for my ailing parents, 2000 miles away in cold winter temperatures, it felt so good to be back in the warmth of the sun again.
There was so much to do this particular morning; too much to get done in one day. I was doing my best to make the yard look cared for. Pulling a few unrelenting weeds, watering deeply, and washing the dust off the lawn chairs were a few of the duties I chose for today.
After using the hose for nearly an hour, I noticed a hummingbird hovering nearby. The unusually tiny body size told me it was probably female. She looked as though she was trying to tell me something. I kept watching her dart around, but never leaving her well sought out spot. I wondered, “Could she be trying to get in the spray of the hose?” So, I held the hose still. Sure enough, she was looking for spots of overspray she could enjoy. Not wanting to continue to let the water spray and waste precious desert water, I turned it off and pointed it downward. Ms. Hummingbird flew under the chair and appeared to be trying to get doused by the water dripping off the straps. Then, she moved closer. She was more than happy to have found her own private shower in the occasional, repetitive drip of the hose. I watched as her green and gray body lighted on the wet ground. She fluttered as the water dripped on her back, wiping the sides of her face on the wet ground. As she moved closer I realized she was standing in the shadow of my leg, and only about 6 inches from the end of my shoe. It was then that I noticed her brilliant purple neck. As she continued to bask in the fresh water, her fluttering noises seemed to be saying “thank you.” I wondered how long this wonderment would last. I didn’t want to scare her away and I knew my morning duties would wait. At times she glanced into my eyes, seemingly smiling.
After about 5 minutes, Ms. Hummingbird was clean and cool. She flew off to perch in a neighbor’s tree. I had met nature this morning. Ahhhhh. Spring in the desert; it’s like no place else.