Tag Archives: bees

nature, Photography

Purple Power

40 Comments

Lavender loves the Okanagan Valley weather and has been growing and developing well all summer; it’s now being harvested and sold at shops or markets or it and its products are being processed and packaged for distribution all over the world.

Do you see the bees?

The glorious scent of the lavender stalls at the Penticton market can be detected far and wide.

The bees adore these plants and settle on them in their thousands, it seems. Like humans, they can’t stay away from that beautiful summery perfume and, of course, the lavender nectar.

For a while it was seen as a very old-fashioned fragrance but its sheer loveliness and usefulness has thankfully overcome that stigma.

According to aromatherapy principles and medicinal practice, lavender isn’t just a pretty-smelling face. It’s a very relaxing and calming scent that promotes sleep while a topical application of lavender oil can help heal minor wounds and a lavender tea can calm an upset stomach. Pretty great for such a simple plant.

Happy Thursday.

nature, Photography

Busy Bees

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I saw this huge bumblebee searching for nectar in a rhododendron bloom. I had never seen one this large before; it was at least 20mm (0.8 inch) if not more. I wondered how it could possibly fly with that bulky, very heavy body. Although bees do not fly in defiance of the rules of aviation, it sure can seem like it!

After some research, I found that this is a Nevada bumblebee; it is common from Alaska and British Columbia to as far south as California and as far west as New Mexico.

Here is a picture of a more average-sized bumble bee; it was foraging next to the huge Nevada bumblebee and looked like a mini-cooper next to a semi-truck! I’m much more used to seeing these smaller ones, but whether large, small, honeybee or bumblebee, they are extremely important to the heath and welfare of so many of Earth’s plants.

Vive les abeilles! 🐝

nature, Photography

Lavender Bees

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The lavender is glorious right now and it’s wonderful to pass by a bush and hear the gentle humming of the bees. The air around them almost seems to be vibrating!

I have lately seen lavender bushes alive with their busy business. Given that their overall numbers have been dropping, it’s absolutely marvellous to see so many of them.

Happy Thursday. 🐝

Commentary, musings, nature, Photography

Clover Time

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Although not universally loved, clover is an essential part of our ecosystem. If you have it in your lawn, it will actually push out weeds, and of course, it’s an important food source for butterflies, some birds, cows, deer, rabbits, horses, and many other animals.

And let’s not forget how important clover is to our bee friends. They love it, and if you love honey, much of it results from the hard work of clover bees.

This clover patch was very busy with bees and butterflies until I disrupted them with my picture-taking, but I noticed that they were back as soon as I stepped away.

Naturopathy counsels that there are many health benefits to consuming clover, and of course, don’t forget that it’s good luck! ☘️

Happy Thursday.

nature, Photography

Bee Thistle

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I found this worker bee very busily nectar-sipping and pollen gathering in this giant thistle flower.

No time for a break! Too much to do!

The bees collect nectar to feed to the young ones back at the hive.

The little ones are going to love this!

Bees eat pollen, but they also spread it from plant to plant, and as a result are massively key to a healthy ecosystem.

Just let me get this last bit …

Without them our world would be in serious trouble. Such lovely, tiny insects are so incredibly important to all living beings.