
The wonderful view from the little medieval town
Castagneto Carducci on the
Castle of Segalari
The Sunrays are so rare in these mild may days.....
which is a very unusual occurrence..
The sun doesn't look out; but I'd love to present you
my little precious guest in my mediterranean wildflower garden;
in the first warm days of Spring you may see the large Bumblebees queens
flying busily about the early bulbs and flowers. These large slow bees are searching
for nectar and pollen to turn into honey and food for their newly hatching brood...

Castello Segalari in Castagneto Carducci

Bumblebees are one of the most endearing insect visitors to any garden.
Their furry, colourful bodies and clumsy flight always raise a smile,
but they also do an essential job.
Without their pollination services many flowers would produce no seeds,
and fruit and vegetable yields would suffer....

( ...not very sharp; the Nikkor lens 18-200mm was not ideal... but there was no time to change..)
This little delicate butterfly joined the Bumblebee......

To help bees we all need to find room for bee-friendly plants,
many of which are extremely beautiful and look great in the garden...
Like the Lavandula stoechas on these pics; named also Spanish Lavenders...
They have beautiful blossoms, unusual blooms
which are tufted and pineapple shaped in appearance
with dark purple flower bracts accompanied by dark green leaves...
Unlike the honey bee the humble bumble is gentle and slow.
As she trundles around the garden collecting pollen and nectar
she is quite different to her streamlined relative who dashes about everywhere...
(This is an absolutely great "athlete bee" (!!)
mentioned my little boy...: with the backlegs on a flower andwith the little head on the flower next to it...!)
The bumble is round and furry and not at all like her more wasp shaped cousin, the honey bee...

Bumble bees do not produce enough honey for commercial use,
just a few grams at a time to feed their young..
Not all bumble bees have a sting.
Drones (smaller male bees that hatch in mid summer ) have no sting at all..!
Bumble bees are much less aggressive than honey bees.
Generally they will not attack a human at all, unless their life is under threat.
Don't wave your arms wildly in their presence,
stand quietly and once they smell you are not a flower with pollen they will move gently away....!!
If you want to help the bees let the lawn grow a little longer
and cut it a little higher so the clover remains to feed the bees with nectar...
Encourage the bumble bee in your garden or farm
and she will repay your kindness by pollinating your flowers,
fruit and vegetables and giving you an excellent set on your blossom....!!!
.....my precious little guest turns around....shows me his furry back and
flies to another wildflower bush....
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