Hummers and Housing
Hummingbirds and housing? How in the heck might those two concepts be related? Well, stick with me for just a minute and I’ll try to explain.
I have a hummingbird feeder outside my office window. I do my best to keep it filled with fresh food. (By the way, in case you didn’t know, hummer food has to be changed about every third day because it will spoil in the hot sun and begin to ferment — and you certainly don’t want to have any tipsy hummers around!).
There are four feeding ports (yellow flowers) on this feeder, and I get regular visits from these beautiful birds. Upon occasion, two hummers will attempt to belly up to the bar at the same time — and the result is they will begin an aerial knockdown. Hummer # 1 will get his fiercest buzz on and bodyslam Hummer # 2 out of the way. Hummer # 2, not so easily deterred, will flit away for a couple of seconds and zoom back in for dominance at the feeder. I wish I knew why this seemingly-violent behavior occurs. There are, after all, four feeding stations and only two birds trying for the nectar. Makes one wonder whether hummers carry any testosterone in their tiny little systems. I know they are male birds, because the females are not nearly as brightly colored, nor as aggressive, as the males.
So how do the hummers relate to the topic of housing? Well, I read an interesting story in the Tennessean from a couple of days ago (June 16, 2013). The article is entitled “New type of neighborhood coming to Nashville.” What’s the new type of neighborhood? It’s called “co-housing.” Construction of this new neighborhood — in the Germantown area of town — is expected to begin by late summer. It will be privately-owned condos, lots of green space (about 40% of the development), rain gardens, edible landscaping, and a clubhouse-type facility designed for meetings and gatherings and committed to energy efficiency. Decisions will be made by consensus, and disagreements will be allowed “as long as people remain respectful and civil.” Hmmmm.
The co-housing philosophy is admirable. In fact, I would love to be part of a community where consensus and civility are promoted behaviors; it sounds like a lifestyle any of us would enjoy. But edible landscaping? Hey, I’ve got an edible landscaping feature right outside my office window; it’s got four feeding stations and two visitors who regularly battle for superiority. In short, anytime you get people together, politics — and trouble — won’t be far behind. I wish the best for this new neighborhood. But I will manage my own edible landscapes; thank you very much.