Busy bees.....

“Handle a book as a bee does a flower, extract its sweetness but do not damage it.” 

A quote from John Muir.  A noted Scottish naturalist whose dedication led to the preservation of many wilderness areas in the United States.  Standing in Yosemite National Park and gazing in awe at the magnificent Half Dome or listening to the cascading waterfalls nearby,  the human race has much to thank this man for.

With the proliferation of blossom in the school garden and we expect more this weekend when the cherry trees should break into flower the bees have been very busy and evident. Tree, Red-tailed, Buff-tailed and Common Carder Bumblebees have all been seen regularly.  Along with them some lesser known species and our good friend Osmia rufa- the Red Mason Bee of which we have good numbers breeding in the garden.

Yellow-legged Mining Bee

Common Carder Bee

 Red Mason Bee

Awaiting identification but might be Andrena haemorrhoa

Buff-tailed Bumble Bee on apple blossom

In the greenhouse the flower on the large Pitcher Plant has now fully developed.  A strange flower indeed.  There are more to come on the other plants

The magnificent flower on the pitcher plant

The cactus has burst into flower this week

 The edible garden vegetable beds have been weeded and ready to seed this weekend.  The herb garden has been tidied and replanting with some addition plants for added interest.  The herb garden is always a centre of interest for the children.  There is nothing like rubbing thyme or a sage leaf in your hand and smelling the aroma.

Bee Hotel

Another bee hotel has been sited in the wall.  This one contains mainly reed stems which will hopefully tempt much smaller, and harder to identify, bees to nest in them.  The garden group likes a challenge!

The Orchard

Finally a view along the back of the garden showing the  corridor of apple blossom, pear blossom and cherry blossom.  No wonder the bees are busy!