Funny you mention the bees, Devon. There was something on the news last night about how the beekeepers in Northern CA are losing bees at a very high rate. They say there's a parasitic mite that's killing them. The workers go off and die, so as not to spread them thru-out the hives, but the new bees are not maturing fast enough to replace them. They end up starving to death. It's sad. The almond and walnut growers rely on the bees to pollenate the trees. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a shortage of nuts and fruit this season. Partly from the lack of bees and the wind damage from last month. Bummer.

On a happier note, I have seen more butterflies in the last few yrs than I used to see in the past. They're always welcome! One thing I miss is the preying mantids. They aren't as prevalent here as where we used to live. I loved seeing them in amongst the roses.

Oh boy, come on spring!

Devon---You always have a lovely thought--

My favorite uncle had this little saying pasted on his wall-

"If instead of a gem or even a flower we can pass the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend !!
that is giving as the angels give."

Florence

I enjoy seeing the bees and birds in the garden, really helps to make the garden feel alive.

I hope the scientists can come to understand what is happening with the honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder.

beautiful thoughts by all I concur.

So true...a person who stays indoors all the time just misses so many good moments. I used to be afraid of bees but am not much anymore. We have a lot more bumblebees than honeybees, but the honeybees do come out in great numbers when a holly here blooms. I love the moths and butterflies that seem most plentiful in late summer. They add so much to the garden.
Linda

Yes bees are becoming rare in the US, they are dying and the cause is unknown. A lot of crops and farmers income are being threatened by the lack of bees. We have plenty over here:

Caught in the Act:

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This bumble bee fainted after visiting this highly fragrant Austin rose or perhaps it just became drunk on life ( rose is Chianti):

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I know the honey bees have declined for the last several years, but there are so many other kinds of bees that visit our garden. Have you noticed that often, when you plant a new kind of flower, it attracts a new kind of bee? I think this is especially true of the older cottage-garden species, rather than many of the new hybrids. One of my favorites is the little "cosmos bees" that plaster themselves around the center of the open flower and seem to sleep overnight there.

Devon,

Beautiful sentiments, truly.
There is something immensely cathartic with having your hands in the soil and to have the privilege of both contributing too and observing nature in all of its splendour. These are all the reasons I became enchanted with gardening in general.

Niels,

Regarding bees, there are problems even in Europe with the Bumblebee and declining numbers. There was an article featured in the most recent RNRS semi-annual publication regarding the declining numbers of Bumblebees and potential agriculture and ecosystem impact.

I too noticed a decline in the number of bees in general last year. They were there, but just not in the overwhelming numbers of years previous. Both my neighbours and I have a number of Rose of Sharon shrubs and a few Hydrangeas. Both of these are favorite feasts of the Bees and their presence in great numbers is omnipresent while those shrubs are blooming. Last year saw a dramatic decrease in the overall numbers to be sure.

Here are a couple of pics from last August.

No matter how I might tryÂand admittedly, I really donÂt try very hard cause I am a guy after allÂI just canÂt help myself from thinking how this really looks like this bee is seriously copulating the heck out of this Dainty Bess bloom. LOL

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This bee certainly got his fill of pollen in these blooms of Mary Rose and appeared to be totally pollen drunk. I watched it for about 5 minutes as it literally rolled around and just frolicked inside 3 or 4 open blooms that were in close proximity to each other.

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There was an excellent program on PBS about the honey bee decline. Turns out a virus is to blame. First discovered in Israel, it has become a world-wide epidemic, spread by the export of infected queens and hives. Current thought is to genetically alter the African honey bee to remove its aggression and breed it with the remaining bees. Apparently, the African bee is immune to this virus. The decline is so rapid that it is estimated there will be no honey bees world-wide by 2035 if they do not find a way to stop it.

BTW: I thought I had "hover flies" infesting my lawn and was about to declare pesticial war. After a chat with an entomologist at UCDavis, I was told these little buzzers are orchard bees. They don't bite or sting, nor do they produce honey, but they will pollinate anything in bloom. It was suggested I accomodate the bees as much as possible. Apparently, they are not affected by the virus. So no pesticides in my yard...except around the foundation for ants and that is by carefully spraying before the bees hatch in spring. One benefit is that I don't have to aerate the lawn. When the bees hatch, there are hundreds of little dirt mounds everywhere.

Carol

Strangely, the number of honey bees in my garden has dramatically increased the last few years. They are primarily attracted to the clover growing in my lawn, but can be seen on many flowers.

Here's a picture for Devon and Beth:

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Devon I can always counts on you for your sweet words.
It is very soothing. Your wonderful thoughts on Birds and Bees and Roses made me think of spring, gives me hope that spring is not too far away.
As long as I have Billy B aka William Baffin and Dainty Bess and a few others, every year my yard will be filled with big bubble buzzing bees, butterflies and birds.
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Niecey

Boyds and bees spend a lot of time in our yard. Leafcutter bees dominate the pollination scene here. There are still as many honey and bumble bees here as there have been before. Deb is afraid of bees and spends hours out there with hundreds of them flying around her. That lady is brave :)

dave boyd

Birds and bees Oh! they are so important. My garden with its thickets of ramblers has become a haven. If I sit still and observe I can see many kinds of bees and wasps. Did you know that often bumble bees really do sleep in roses? I've seen them tumbling out of a single rose opening on a summers morning. Blackbirds come every spring to make nests in the roses. I love all the activity of their mating building nests and raising babies. There is also the singing of frogs and the darting of fish in our ponds. Don't forget the little lizards.