Category Archives: Backyard Garden

Flight of the Bumble Bee

24 Thursday Sep 2020

Posted by in Backyard Garden, Bumble Bee, Bumblebee, Garden, Home Garden

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I have seen Bumble Bees fly but did not know they look like a flying round teddy bears until I photographed them in mid-air. They look really cool being so round and having their short legs showing on the bottom. This Bumble Bee was flying toward my Lavender plant.

Notice the dark fragile wings of this bee. They look so thin. Yet these wings enable the bee to fly long distances and quickly. A bee can fly fast or hover over flowers to retrieve the nectar.

The bee’s fuzzy yellow top and bottom makes it stand out. We all need brightness in our lives. The black body has a little bit of a sheen in its appearance.

What can we learn from the flight of the Bumble Bee? 

The weak looking wings of the Bumble Bee are actually quite powerful to enable the bee to travel great distances.

The Bumble Bee is very small in size, but it can bring bad pain to anyone of us with it’s stinger.

It is possible for the weak things to shame the strong.

So do not underestimate individuals who seem weak?

Do not allow our pride to ignore those who appear weak. The “weak” will teach us the meaning of strength.

Find strength in our weaknesses!

Photos Teach!

Bumble Bee tip toeing on Lavender

06 Thursday Aug 2020

Posted by in Backyard Garden, Bumble Bee, Bumblebee, Garden, Home Garden, Lavender

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Since we are still sheltering in place, I spend lots more time in our garden. I position myself in our yard waiting and watching the bees, hummingbirds or butterflies enjoy the flowers. I take my big Canon camera and lens to see what interesting sights I can shoot.

I photographed this Bumble Bee in our backyard garden landing on our Lavender plant. I love the flurry of its wings in action. It’s amazing how fast the wings can go to keep the bee up in the air. It is also interesting to examine the long thin legs of the bee approaching the lavender flower to collect the pollen and nectar.

This pandemic has allowed me to spend time to tend to my garden. Before the pandemic, I did start planning out what to grow in the garden to attract birds, butterflies and bees. But the pandemic provided me a reason to go to the garden since I am not venturing out of the house except for groceries.

Even though the pandemic is a terrible occurrence in the world, it is teaching us valuable lessons.

The pandemic is teaching me about solitude in fellowship with nature. It is showing me how bees can dance on lavender and other flowers. I am learning patience as I wait and watch to capture images of the natural occurrence in nature.

Lastly, blessings are possible in all circumstances of life even in a pandemic. It is a blessing to the beauty of a bee encroaching on the pretty petals of lavender.

Photography teaches me to be patient.

Protection to Grow for Sky/Dwarf Lupine Seedlings

09 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by in Backyard Garden, Lupine, Protective Net, Sky Dwarf Lupine

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I am trying to grow these seedlings for Sky/Dwarf Lupine in my garden. This is my first attempt to create an oasis where I can shoot photographs.

Since I am protective over my new plants, I am watching their progress. Well I noticed there was something nibbling these little plants. Fortunately, I remembered an idea to protect these plants from being eatened.

I purchased this netting which I propped above the plants to prevent the critter(s) from snacking on the plants.

The rains came to naturally water these young plants. The drops on the netting look like beads on a string. I photographed this with my Pixel 3XL. It is pretty amazing the photos we can take with our cellphones.

It did take time for me to figure out how I should protect my plants to give them a chance to grow. I spent time to plan and place the netting over the plants. I did not realize I would have to protect these plants considering I live in San Francisco and not in the countryside.

Even though the protective netting was not intended to be pretty, the beaded rain gave a pretty up close look at this young garden.

Often times, we do not like to do the effort to obtain protection.

Recently, we are seeking protection by wearing masks in hopes of preventing further infection of the coronavirus. My wife made a cloth mask to wear when we go grocery shopping. I dug out an old mask from the garage. Wearing a mask is a little stifling. It is a little stuffy. It makes us warm.

But we need this protection. People are making fun masks to wear! There are designer masks now. Be pretty and protected in a fun mask!

Our people need to survive to grow and find a cure and vaccine to protect us.

Keep Protected! Keep Safe!

Photos are good reminders!

Planting Sky/Dwarf Lupine Plants in my Backyard

23 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in Backyard Garden, Sky Dwarf Lupine

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So why is a photographer growing Sky/Dwarf Lupine in the backyard? All of us can wear “multiple hats”. One of my results from a Career evaluation revealed I could be a farmer. Thus it is true I do enjoy growing things.

We have a neighbor with a towering pine tree which has grown up as high as our building – 3 stories. This tree annually will grow onto yard and against our building. Unfortunately, our neighbor is not proactive to trim this tree.

So we hired a gardener to trim the tree. We decided we needed to clean up the weeds etc. in our yard.

Wishing to maintain the weed free garden, my wife suggested we should grow drought resistant plants. Then I started pondering how to create a garden to attract birds and butterflies to photograph.

One side of the yard has good sun and the other side has little sun. With the different areas of varying sun exposure has been a challenge in selecting plants. I feel putting together the different plants is like being an artist creating a painting with different colors and textures.

So I studied and looked for plants to create color and an environment that hopefully I can use to photograph in safety. (In case you do not know, I was mugged at Candlestick Park during the demolition – you can look at the story on this blog).

So one of my choices is this Sky/Dwarf Lupine – which will hopefully grow to be these pretty lavender plants.

Pictures of Sky/Dwarf Lupine

Hope you will follow my progress as I strive to create my own environment for my photography.

Consider how you can add “more hats” to your repertoire of abilities and talents. This is my first attempt to try to landscape a garden.

It is never too late in your life to try on a new hat. It could fit better than you imagine. I am hoping for a good fit as I try to wear a gardener’s hat.

Photos Inspire!