Tag Archives: Bumble Bee

Feeling Round, Plump & Happy

27 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Bumble Bee, Bumblebee, Cardinal Flower, Garden, Home Garden, Lobelia Gerardii Vedrariensis

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The day after Thanksgiving was a day of getting up early to catch the Black Friday specials. Shopping was the physical exercise after over indulging our Thanksgiving feasts. Family, friends and food are the 3 “F”s which are characteristic of this wonderful holiday. Unfortunately, this year we probably had less of our normal 3 “F”s, since we were warned not to gather to spread COVID.

Yesterday, we did need to cook our Thanksgiving comfort foods. We prepped our large turkey which was a little smaller than what we cook for 30-40 people. It was still large, since we provided food for my parents and brother. We normally never have any turkey leftovers, since our relatives enjoy taking home the leftovers. So if we are going to roast a turkey, we might as well enjoy the leftovers for a change.

We made our favorite side dishes of sweet potatoes with marshmallows, roasted brussel sprouts, fresh cranberry sauce and Chinese sticky rice with Chinese bacon and sausage. Surprising from Wednesday to Thursday, we finished cooking everything in time for my brother to pick up the feast, even with our big mess of spilling the overflowing turkey juice from the pan.

Normally, I would feel like the way this bee looks – round, plump and happy. Our custom has been to celebrate with about 30-40 relatives and share a Thanksgiving potluck. We have been roasting the turkey for the family. There is an overload of variety. It is a fun time of feasting and fellowship. This probably is the first time we all could not meet together. I did not eat as much since I cooked so much and was tired from the work. It was still worth it to eat my favorites.

The bee is happily flying around to gather its pollen and nectar. It enjoys the sweetness of the flowers to become healthy round and joyful. This bee is fast. I shot this photo at 1/8000 of a second. I still could catch the quickness of his wings.

I wish I could move with this speed with a round body. The bee is quick to gather pollen to bring back to his hive family.

It reminds me during this Thanksgiving time how we need to be quick to express our Gratitude to God and to those we care about. This pandemic has been teaching me to be quick to appreciate the moments in life. After Thanksgiving, it is normal for us to feel lethargic from over indulging.

Nevertheless, we need to emulate to be like the bee. Can we feel happy to feed or help those around us. When we gave the meal to my brother to bring to my parents, he expressed it was a fancy meal. It may have taken us time to prepare the meal, and we sacrificed a day to cook for our family. But it is important to show an expression of our care for our family.

Bees are constantly taking care of their hives. This bee is pretty adorable being fuzzy, round and fast.

Who do we need to take care of? Be adorable with our after-Thanksgiving roundness and figure out who you can give care to.

Photos Teach!

Bumble Bee Zeroing In on Lavender Flower

23 Friday Oct 2020

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

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We do not usually consider bees as fuzzy creatures. Most of us think about the stinger on a bee and wanting to get away from this flying insect.

This photograph shows us the softer side of the bee with it fuzzy exterior. It reminds of a cuddly stuffed animal since this bee is round in shape. The photo also shows the bee’s wings in action and the long pair of antennae on top of the bee’s head.

This bee has a nice orange chunk of pollen collected in its pollen baskets on the hind legs. Bees are goal oriented to take care of the needs of their hive. I do not know where their hive is, but the bees are pretty regular to return to sip from my flowers.

It is important for us to also show our “fuzzy” side to other people. Do we show compassion? Do we seek to help people with their needs if it is within our capabilities or if we have the resources? Or are we too focused on our own world to be sensitive to the needs of our family, friends or other people we are in contact with.

Let’s hope the people in our lives see our fuzzy nature and not our “stinger”.

Photos Teach!

 

Bumble Bee Collecting

26 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by in Bumble Bee, Bumblebee, Dwarf Sungold Sunflower, Garden, Home Garden, Sungold flower

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This Bumble Bee had plenty of pollen on his head, legs, and body. He really enjoyed getting into this flower and collecting all the pollen.

If you have an imagination, the bee looks like he landed on a strange planet with green fuzzy protective extremities. The planet has yellow and brown creatures which the bee hover over.

Imagination is important to develop for creativity. We need to imagine scenarios to develop solutions to the problems in our world.

I believe answers exists for impossible situations. We just need to imagine to see the possible solutions. If one possibility fails, this is perfectly ok.

Through our failures, we eliminate possibilities to move on to another idea.

This bee is collecting the pollen to feed his hive group. He is seeking to help his family association.

Collecting ideas and sharing thoughts is important to develop solutions.

Let’s collect and share to develop answers for the problems we face.

Photos Teach!

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.

What We Discovered on the 4th of July?

15 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by in Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, Shoreview Park

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We attended a potluck picnic with our parents’ friends and their families. It is an annual event with a huge crowd.  This year, there were about 60 something people enjoying good food and friendships. It was a nice opportunity to visit with some of my parents’ friends and hear how they are doing.

We love to eat the variety of food – from the typical grilled hot dogs to Chinese pig feet. There was gourmet fried soft tofu with the Cantonese savory toppings. Somen noodles was good as well as the homemade sushi.  My mom was excited about the small fried corn on the cob bites from Wingstop which she purchased. The homemade lemon bars and almond jello were the perfect ending for a good lunch.

After a delicious lunch and fun conversation, my wife and I decided we should walk around the park area near the picnic tables. We were pleased to take a closer look at the peripheral flowers. We started watching the Bumble Bees go from flower to flower. We got excited watching the Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies fly and occasionally land on the flowers.

We decided to utilize our Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL cameras. I made the decision to purchase these phones since I was impressed with the cameras. I cannot carry my good camera equipment everywhere I go. I wanted a camera on my phone so I could easily take pictures even if I was not prepared to bring my heavy duty equipment. So we decided to shoot photos with our phones to see what is the photo quality of the cameras.

I knew my Canon cameras would surpass the quality of the Pixel 3 camera. But the results still were good from this photo shoot session.

As always the lighting is an essential factor for a good picture. I am trying to teach my wife how to take pictures.

The lesson I am trying to drill in her is to shoot as many pictures as possible. You can never be absolutely sure the quality of the photo in relationship to any movement and lighting on the object. So taking more photos increases your odds of getting the “perfect” photo.

We were trying to take photos with a bee in the flowers or a butterfly in the flowers. But we also took photos just of the flowers alone.

But by shooting an abundance of shots, you will be surprised at the outcome of your pictures.

The Pixel camera is very good. These photos we posted were among the better photos we took.

So what did my wife learn this 4th of July?

  • No matter where you are, take a look of your surroundings to discover things you never noticed. We’ve been to this park a number of times for picnics and gatherings. We never took the time to look at the flowers and plants.
  • Take lots of pictures. Do not be satisfied with just taking one shot for a picture. Increase your odds to get the perfect picture.
  • Learn to recognize the best lighting for a picture.

What did I learn this 4th of July?

  • The Pixel 3XL takes good wide angle pictures.
  • There are limitations in using the zoom lense feature on the Pixel 3XL. If you zoom in too much, the picture is not as sharp.
  • When I was shooting the 4th picture with the red fuzzy bud, I shot lots of photographs. I wanted the camera to focus on the center where the bud was. I noticed the focus was not where I wanted it to be. I realize I could touch the spot where I want to focus. But I was also trying to quickly take pictures. So the focus was not always as precise as I would like.

In conclusion, I still like the photos from the Pixel 3XL. I cannot expect it to act like my Canon DSLR cameras. But it is a good substitute when I do not want to lug my heavy equipment.

What do you think of these Pixel 3XL photos?