Gardening Gone Wild Picture This Photo Contest Entry

Small bumblebee pollinating the Autumn Sedum

Gardening Goes Wild hosts a monthly photo contest.  I've entered once before but our moving sorta took away my fun time blogging and entering contests.  However, I was inspired to enter their September Picture This Photo Contest with the above image.

Bees are all over my Autumn Sedum.  Bees of all kinds, as well as butterflies and skippers, weird flies and tiny bugs buzz in and around the pink flowers.  Kinda like Saturday at the Mall, there is activity everywhere, all day, every day.  I've had more fun chasing bumblebees and honeybees, all of which have been very patient with me.  Although I have some images that are more striking of the bees themselves, this one caught my eye because of the focus.  I used my Macro lens, F 2.8, 1/800 sec, ISO 400.  Can't wait to see all the entries! 

Butterflies and Bees

Hackberry emperors are everywhere. They flitter through the air, dangle from leaves, stick to the side of the house and decorate my patio. One hitched a ride in my hair. This lovely guy was cold yesterday morning early, spreading his wings to catch some rays. Because he was cold he was mine to photograph.

His eyeball watched me carefully. What was this strange creature with a long, black cylinder sticking out of its face? The Canon with its macro and I crept closer, kneeling on the patio. His tongue must have needed warming, too.

He didn't budge, didn't blink, didn't move his antennae. Only his eyes traveled, mimicking my moves.

So how close can I get?


This close. My, what pretty eyes you have!

Later I head to the mailbox to see what's there and here's this lovely copper winged bumbler hanging on. Yes...this is our mailbox post and I offer no apologies. Normal people would have sanded and painted it but I'm partial to the lichens and mosses and its textured appearance. It reminds me of the forest and my lake so it remains despite the neighbor's imagined turned-up noses. Doesn't the bee look nice there? He was immortalized from all directions and never budged. Later, I went back to check on him and he was all warmed up and buzzing elsewhere.

Nature offers spirituality up in so many forms, so may ways. We have but to open our hearts and minds. Have a lovely Sunday.

Buckeye Report

My sloping bank is filled with buckeyes. They gleam in the morning and afternoon sun and already attract early emerging butterflies and bumblebees. My heavens, our bumblebees are the size of zeppelins. Miniature dirigibles blundering from plant to plant, buzzing and pollinating. I love bees, but I digress. Soon the hummers will migrate from points south and begin feasting upon the buckeyes. It's time to dust off the hummingbird feeder and get ready for the show.

Just stopping by to say "hi!" I'm busy spring cleaning. The garage has been emptied, cleaned and prepared for a garage sale. Today, my task is to go through Bill & Elgin's things - throw away, sort for charities, price for garage sale, etc. Our stuff, too. It's GOTTA go.

Everyone have a wonderful, stellar, remarkable, magical day!