I have been out the last couple of days enjoying some sunshine but also seeing the terrible frost damage at Leu Gardens. I know it will grow back but seeing so many brown and leafless trees and shrubs is quite depressing.
There are not many flowers and fewer bees, but I always seem to find the indefatigable honey bee. Here is one enjoying one of the few camellias that survived the frost.
who was then joined by a tiny ant..
When writing about bees at some point you do have to think about plants too.
They all need each other.
I have started keeping a notebook about the flowers that bees really like, so when I do eventually have a garden again I can plant a bee heaven.
There are of course many bee friendly flowers and I have a long long list, but here are the first ten, very rough, colour notes in a small moleskine.
Knapweed Centuaurea and Californian Poppy Eschscholzia
Cornflower Centaurea and Fleabane Erigeron
Dandelion Taraxacum and Forget-me-not Myosotis
Globe Buddleia Globosa and Grape Hyacinth Muscari
Hollyhocks.. Alcae (a real favourite with me) and Indian Blanket Gaillardia
They are simply notes, but useful quick reminders for me and could be developed into a nice complementary series to the bees… if I ever have enough time.
USA readers !! Flowers for your bees..
Scott at Hometown Seeds is offering a discount of 10% to blog readers “By entering the coupon code “thanks”, 10% will be reduced from the total cost of any order. The code will be good through February 28, 2010.” see Survival seeds, or Wildflower seeds..
Get some veg for the family and flowers for the bees…and let some of the veg run to flower, the bees will thank you!
Your moleskine pages are lovely. I know you say they are very rough, but I can see so much thought went into them – the composition, the background colors, and then the pencil drawing and notes off to the side. These are really wonderful.
Glad to hear you've been getting some sunshine. We're expecting more snow tonight. *Sigh*.
Lovely notes! Beautiful colors. I like to think of the wild honey bees sleeping up in the Rock Maple next to the old farmhouse here. ;>)
I love your blog! If you were to put all of those paintings into a mosaic of some sort that could be framed, I'd have to buy it.
I want to do a journal like this! How absolutely unique and collector-worthy! (Family members will one day treasure this!) 🙂
We're sharing a brain this week…I reposted a post from several years ago today, with a couple of new photos to go along with it. The chorus of pollinator-promoting gardeners is growing, around the world…
Great article. Be sure to submit to "An Inordinate Fondness", the new beetle blog carnival: http://aninordinatefondness.wordpress.com/
Well thats so kind of you all. I was in two minds whether to post these little sketch notes.I have to admit that I am not big fan of molskines but have had a couple bought for me and this seemed the perfect project for one.
G . you are so kind .. some(well quite a few), were happy accidents. wish I could send you some Florida sun for a while!
C.. that is such a beautiful image. OK wild honey beees next!
N.. I am putting them together right now! 🙂
SG… just do it.. get a little molseskine (with watercolour paper)..there are only 30 pages so not too daunting.. and do your 30 favourite flowers!
J… that's a super post!thank you .. yes we are all spreading the word about bees.. every little helps.
Thanks A.. presume you mean the lili post.. will email you !