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Worker Bees
Sometimes I envy bees because they know what to do and they know how to do it.
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Rogue Oregano – Orogueano?
This week I’ve been finding sprouts of oregano in places I didn’t plant oregano. This is just one more benefit of taking care of the bees. The pruning rule is that once a sprig of oregano is 6″ long, it should be cut back to the ground. This keeps the new growth coming. However, oregano left to grow makes lovely clusters of flowers that the bees seem to love. Last year, I let it grow out, blossom and seed, and…
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Honey in the Raw
This is our family’s second year using a local food delivery service Papa Spuds. We don’t request a delivery every week, and because we grow some of our own vegetables, we make good use of their other offerings like artisan bread, local goat cheese, and occasional sweet treats. The best find by far is the local raw wildflower honey by The Pleasant Bee. They sell their honey through their website, Papa Spuds, and on Saturday morning at the Midtown Farmers…
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Bumbles on Mint
Maybe because it is overcast and actually looks like we might see rain, the bees have kicked it into high gear this morning buzzing around the mint and oregano blossoms. They are so busy that I can get my camera within inches of their fuzzy little bodies without them minding. Watching them has become one of my favorite activities. They climb around and up the mint blossoms, attacking it like my husband attacks an ear of corn at dinner. They…
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Taking care of the bumbles
I’ve always been skittish around flying insects with stingers. I blame my parents who potty trained me in the buff on the side porch, during which I was stung on the bumkin by a bee. When approached by a yellow jacket, I will actually take off in flight until I lose him. However, in the garden, there is one stinger I’ve found peace with – bumble bees! Mind you, the carpenter bees are still evil assassins that chase me for…
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Yellow
December, is this really you? The yellow in the yard was very unexpected. Due to the unseasonably warm weather last week, some of the lettuce bolted, and our Renee’s Mesclun lettuce mix is now blossoming and attracting little bees. After heavily pruning the Chinese Privet, we discovered that a usually hidden little bush also blossoms this time of year. If anyone cares to do a little plant identification for me, I’d be much obliged.
