Busy, Busy, Busy

One of my favorite plants is the Texas Sage.  It's silver leaves give way to purple blossoms several times a year.   These are then frequented by bees.   For many years since coming to Texas, I didn't see many bees.   Now when they come visit I make sure that they know they are welcome.  In the summer I plant many flowers that they love to visit and I also make sure that they have accessible water; especially in the heat of the Texas summer.   

Bee

As we grow older we believe that to find things of beauty, we have to leave home. There is so much beauty in the world outside our home, but it is not home. That is not true, we just have to stop and look… it is there. Just like this, today in my back yard… a honey bee takes pollen and nectar from a wild flower. I have no idea what kind of flower it is, it is really common, but I have no idea what it is. All I know is that it has the tiny purple flowers, and the stalks are slightly maroon.

[Edit:  The plant in question is Dead Nettle.]

Backyard Spring

Mississippi is one of the places that seasons make no real sense, we wear shorts one day… and the next night it snows. Right now we are in a very warm spring-like period, and all the plants are starting to bloom and all the insects are coming out to play. I do know that this early spring may very well be short lived, for I know that winter can strike back at any moment before the end of March and these delicate redbud blooms will be frozen sadly away, and the poor bumblebees will have to huddle for warmth. However for now they mingle, giving me a glimpse of what is coming.

On another note, this will most likely be my last blog post before my long awaited trip to the United Kingdom, where I will be sure to give the world a glimpse through my eyes of a completely different part of the world.