Ajijic “hummingbird lady” Florence Merrifield will celebrate her 80th birthday on July 18.
Her friends and neighbors will acknowledge this milestone event with gifts of sugar that Merrifield will surely use for the eight species of hummingbirds that visit her garden each year.
For the past 22 years, “Flossie” has taken on the care and feeding of hummingbirds in her lush and exotic garden located in the center of the village, with a sign over the front gate that says “Flossie’s Fly Through.”
She regularly opens her garden to those intrigued with viewing as many as 200 of the tiny birds at any given time attacking at least one of the nearly 20 feeders she fills for them twice a day.Her fascination with hummingbirds began when she put up one feeder and then two. She saw only two kinds of the hummers and then discovered that when she put up more feeders, different kinds of birds showed up. She was told that only four species of hummingbirds dwell here but she regularly counts seven and sometimes eight.
Merrifield’s income is a modest one but she makes it stretch to purchase the 25 kilos of sugar required to make sugar water for the birds each week. She also buys food and cooks for folks in the neighborhood who can’t do for themselves.
Anyone interested in helping Merrifield with her passion while wishing her the happiest of birthdays is welcome to drop off sugar (it should be in sealed packages) at her home, Independencia 2 in Ajijic, on her special day, Wednesday, July 18 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Just pull the chain that rings the bell. It might take a minute, but your presence will be acknowledged and the sugar appreciated.