Dusty Bees

I was awakened last night by our first thunderstorm.  There was plenty of fast paced lightening and thunder, one crack that had me nearly jump out of bed.  The sound of the rain relaxed me, as I knew how much work that would save me the following day. 

With less work to do today on the yard, I headed out with my camera.  I had been worried about the low number of bees I was seeing, but yesterday I noticed that the numbers have increased dramatically.  They are everywhere and are of every shape and size.  Some are so big, they could be mistaken for hummingbirds. I love the bees, and am so glad to see them back in such numbers. 

The threat of their extinction makes me feel incredibly sad, as I cannot imagine a garden without them. Nor, apparently, would us humans be able to survive without them as they are responsible for pollinating so many of the crops we depend on.  Science is working hard at solving this problem and I hope they can find a solution, In the meantime, I will continue to do my part in saving the population by planting plenty of flowers and allowing ( a reasonable) amount of weeds to bloom.

I love the amber color of the wings on this hard-working little guy.








I love this row of trees even more now that my husband is at home full time to help me maintain them.  My arms are numb by the time I'm done trimming around all their bases.



The beautiful irises are all in full bloom.



Here is a view of the south part of my yard.  You can see the corner of one of my two vegetable gardens on the right hand side.  My dog, Bear lies in the shade here for hours while I piddle away in the dirt.



I was certain this shot would be nice in black and white, and I love it!


Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 8, 2016 at 7:43 PM

    Incredible photos this evening! The bees are remarkable and your yard is absolutely gorgeous. Wishing you a good evening.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ChristineJune 9, 2016 at 5:37 AM

    Andrea, these are fantastic shots! What amazing detail of the flowers & bee!
    Glad you & your hubby can now work together as there must be so much involved in running your home!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amy at love made my homeJune 10, 2016 at 1:42 AM

    Wow!!! Incredible photos of the bees!!! They are beautiful!! The bees and the photos!!! That is a long avenue of trees isn't it, a lot of work, but beautiful too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. sweetbriardreamsJune 10, 2016 at 11:05 AM

    Spectacular shots of those fabulous bees (what camera do you use??). I love watching bees in the garden, it's so relaxing xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. MeredithJune 10, 2016 at 1:28 PM

    I worry about bees myself, I think all the radio waves in the air are harmful to them
    Beautiful photos,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJune 10, 2016 at 1:55 PM

    In the b/w shot, the bee's wings are so dramatic!!!

    Love the bee photos. He certainly WAS busy as a bee!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Joy JunktionJune 10, 2016 at 8:54 PM

    These are beautiful photos, Andrea! What type of camera lens do you use, awesome close ups! Blessings to you, Cindy xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. eileeninmdJune 11, 2016 at 7:58 AM

    Hello, gorgeous flowers and great captures of the bees. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lilly's MomJune 11, 2016 at 4:59 PM

    Hi Andrea, your photos are so amazing of your flowers and nature. The close up of the bee is so unique. I need to plant more bee friendly plants in my garden. I hope you are having a wonderful Saturday. It's cloudy and misty here in southern California. Hugs, Pat

    ReplyDelete
  10. StephanieJune 14, 2016 at 7:50 AM

    Dearet Andrea, your photos took my breath away with their beauty. The last photo is stunning, my friend. And the rows of trees look divine to walk through :)

    Wishing you a joyous week. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Judith @ Lavender CottageJune 18, 2016 at 6:04 AM

    That is a long row of trees to keep trimmed around and they beckon one for a stroll down the middle.
    A great capture of the bee, (colour and black and white) we'll be in dire straights for food if their numbers drop but at least many home gardens are using organic practices these days.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Celestina MarieJune 23, 2016 at 7:24 AM

    Hi Andrea, Your photos are stunning. You are such an incredible talent with your camera. Love the bee shots and the row of trees looks like something from a movie. Have a great weekend ahead. Blessings xo

    ReplyDelete
  13. Kelly @ Homespuns 'n HayfieldsAugust 6, 2016 at 8:51 AM

    I love all the photos of your bees. We have had a ton of them here this year also and it's so good to see. They are definitely hard workers. My favourite is the big, fat, furry bumblebees. That is definitely a lot of trees to trim. We have a lot too and my arms give out after a while but it makes things look so much nicer. I hope you're enjoying your summer.

    ReplyDelete

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