Beginning & Ending with Bees

Of all the flowers in the gardens, throughout all the seasons, it seems that the bees love the sunflowers the most. It looked like they were gorging themselves on the pollen this morning. Do you see how full their pollen sacs are already?

As I was looking up to see the sunflowers, I felt me feet getting wet. The vegetable garden was covered in dew! The high humidity had to go somewhere in last night's 14˚C coolness. Where it went was quite lovely to look at.

Zooming closer to the smaller petals, it looks like the water droplets were elbowing each other to try and stay on. Some of them were holding on for dear life. The look like a picot edging.

And then others join forces to become large drops.

More of the transplanted day lilies are blooming now. We'll see how they fare with the native plants in the woods.

Looks like I caught this guy in its super-relaxed mode. Sunday morning sprawl.

Finding a balance between hybridized flowers and native wild ones takes time and patience and attention. I think this Queen Anne's lace has found its perfect spot. It is flourishing behind the Hostas and Day Lilies.

I like the background on this image. May save it to my art folder.

The Merlin app found 6 or 7 birds this morning including a red-eyed vireo (which I've never seen yet) and a Great Blue Heron. Occasionally, we see one flying over our place, going to the wetlands north of us. This little guy and its buddies live with us. And, I am so glad they do. They seem to get tamer and tamer as the season progresses.

I love the messiness of this image. It's like the United Nations of flowers.

Look at that plum crop! I need to remind myself that there WILL be worms. We sprayed with dormant oil in the springtime, but that was all the intervention we did. Do you see how some plums just don't make it to maturity?

This clump of day lilies has been split often ....

.... and this one never. Next year, part of it will go to Lindsey's garden. I feel like we are giving gold. What a treasure.

The more time you spend wandering around, the more your brain gets accustomed to seeing new things. First time round, I didn't see this. I believe it is dog vomit slime mould.

Back to the bees..... the Hostas were a good second choice this morning. It was very easy to get some good shots of bees finding their way into their flowers. What a struggle to work your way through those twisted stamens.

Yesterday, in another fit of downsizing for old age, Ted moved the weathervane to the top of the laundry pole. It had been in our living room on the farm, then on the cupola for 20 years at this house and now..... it will be telling us which way the wind is blowing without going outside to look at it.

Looks like the bees have moved on.

Me too.