Tag Archives: Lavender

Smelling Sweet Lavender

22 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by in Back Yard Garden, Backyard Garden, Bumblebee, Canon, Garden, Grocery Outlet, Home Garden, Lavender

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I photographed this Bumblebee last summer while she was approaching to collect some nectar from our Lavender plant. We surprisingly found this great lavender plant at Grocery Outlet. We are very thankful for the hard work of Bumblebees and Honey Bees for pollinating the plants and food crops in our yard and in the world.

It was by chance we found lavender plants at Grocery Outlet one afternoon. They were healthy mature plants at a pretty reasonable price. We bought a few different plants that day from Grocery Outlet. This helped us in the beginnings of improving our backyard space. It was also about a year before this pandemic started. Little did we know how much we would need our backyard to “Shelter in Place”.

These lavender plants bloomed wonderfully in the spring and summer of last year. The smell was wonderful. I’ve always liked the smell of lavender. But I really fell in love with the smell in my backyard. It is calming and relaxing.

The Bumblebees also love the lavender. These plants attracted many bees into the yard. I did not fully realize how beneficial these plants would be. When I first bought the plants, I did not fully envision how I would be photographing these bees in my backyard. None of us would dream that we would face such a pandemic where we would be home so much.

I am looking forward to spring to enjoy the lavender flowers again. I am preparing for spring. I am trying to make myself less threatening to the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. I researching and planning what new flowers I can plant for my flying friends.

Smelling these lavender flowers reminds me how to take time to smell the flowers. I never spent time to smell any flowers. The sensation of smell does relax and provides a calming atmosphere. I am pretty good at smelling. I love tofu and can sniff to make sure the tofu is still fresh. Smelling lavender refreshes my soul and reminds me to take a moment to be thankful.

Bees also have a great sense of smell and love the lavender scent. The lavender scent draws the bees to the flowers.

During this pandemic time, find the scents that help relaxation!

Photos Relax our Souls!

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!

 

Honey Bee Seeking Sweet Lavender

18 Sunday Oct 2020

Posted by in Backyard Garden, Bee, Garden, Home Garden, Honey Bee, Lavender

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Our neighborhood Honey Bee was busy getting nectar for her hive and pollinating our Lavender Plant. It is pretty fascinating examining the flight of the honey bee. The eyes of the bee are pretty big. It’s wings seem so thin yet are powerful for the fast flights.

I get energized sitting in my backyard to find good shots of the 3 B’s — Bees, Butterflies and Birds (basically hummingbirds). I am learning patience as I sit in my chair looking out for these buddies who are also getting to know me. They are trying to figure out if they can trust me. Unfortunately, my big lens is intimidating to the hummingbirds. I notice the hummingbirds come more frequently if I do not have the big camera lens around my neck.

I am trying to learn how to gain the trust of the hummingbirds. I try to be still when they fly close to me. I am trying to wear colors which will not be offensive to them. I watch my actions so not to scare them away.

This is also a lesson in life. Do our actions allow for people to trust us? I am trying to attract these critters to my garden and me, so I can shoot photos. Can we seek to show our integrity and genuine concern to others, so they will feel comfortable to seek help and advice for us? Some may think it is better to not be involved in other people’s lives. People are too much work. It is easier to just have a small pod of people. Yes we can only see a small pod of people of the pandemic. In reality our sphere should not just be limited to our pandemic pod.  But our sphere can expand if we are interested in helping people.

Just as I do not want to scare off the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, I also do not want to scare off people in my life. Just as the bee is attracted to the lavender for sweetness, can we show “sweetness” to people during these pandemic times?

Photos teach us about sweetness!

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.