Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Amazing Honey Bee Facts

"Unique among all God's creatures, only the honey bee improves the environment and preys not on any other species." ~ Royden Brown DID YOU KNOW? (you can see this blog better if you use your zoom feature on your computer on the lower right hand side? - I didn't!) * The honey bee has been around for about 30 million years**see NOTE: **NOTE: (Apis mellifera L.) preceded humans on earth by 10 to 20 million years. Honey bees are one of the oldest forms of animal life still in existence from the Neolithic Age. Primeval humans gathered and ate the honey and honeycombs of wild bees, the only available sweet, as far back as 7000 B.C. * It is the only insect that produces food eaten by man. * Honey bees have 6 legs, 4 wings and 5 eyes (see bee anatomy drawing) * Only worker bees sting, and only if they feel threatened and they die once they sting. All worker bees are sterile females. The male bees are called drones. They have no stinger and their only function is to mate with the queen. They die after mating. Queen bees have stingers, but do not go outside to defend the hive; only the queen lays eggs. * It is estimated that 1100 honey bee stings are required to be fatal. * Honey bees clock over 55,000 frequent flyer miles and drop in on about 2 million plants in order to produce one pound of honey - all that time and effort to make 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey per bee, per bee lifetime. * Honey bees communicate with one another by "dancing" (see video below) * Bees fly an average of 13-15 mph. * Worker honey bees live for about 4 weeks in the spring or summer, but up to 6 weeks during the winter. * The queen bee lives for about 2-3 years and is the only bee that lays eggs. * Fermented honey, known as Mead, is the most ancient fermented beverage. The term "honey moon" originated with the Norse practise of consuming large quantities of Mead during the first month of a marriage. A THOUGHT TO PONDER: "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live" ~ Albert Einstein Here is a partial list of tried-and-true bee attractors: ANNUALS Buttercups, Clematis, Cosomos, Dahlias, Enchinacea, English Ivy, Foxglove, Geranium, Hollyhocks, Hyacinth, Roses PERENNIALS Aster, Clover, Crocus, Marigolds, Poppies, Snowdrops, Sunflowers, Zinnias GARDEN PLANTS Blackberries, Cantaloupe, Cucumbers, Gourds, Peppers, Pumpkins, Raspberries, Squash, Strawberries, Watermelons, Wild Garlic HERBS Bee Balm, Borage, Catnip, Coriander/Cilantro, Fennel, Lavender, Mints, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme BUSHES Blueberry, Butterfly Bush, Button Bush, Honeysuckle, Indigo, Privet TREES Alder, American Holly, Basswood, Black Gum, Black Locust, Buckeyes, Catalpa, Eastern Redbud, Fruit Trees (especially Crabapples, Golden Rain Tree, Hawthorns, Hazels, Linden, Magnolia, Maples, Mountain Ash, Sycamore, Tulip, Tupelo, Poplar, Willows Although Utah enjoys the title "The Beehive State," the top honey-producing states include California, Florida, and South Dakota. In 1998, the United States made over 89,000 metric tons of honey. China, the world's top honey-producer, created more than 140,000 metric tons of honey in 1997. For your amusement, I am adding an entertaining little movie clip called "Green Porno" where Isabella Rossellini portrays a honeybee and explains how they live. You can watch her impersonate other insects here: The Sundance Channel You can find more bee related information here: American Beekeeping Federation

Dragonflies are my friends

Not only do I love bees, but I have always enjoyed watching the dragonflies. I recently became even more enchanted with them when I learned that they also eat mosquitoes, which makes them my allies. I was at Bank's Lake again today and managed to snap a photo of one that actually flew closer as if to pose for me: While Gizzy and I were walking around, I noticed how pretty the clouds looked (I love big, puffy, cumulus clouds) and decided to take a few pictures of the sky as well: One of these days, I'll get a better zoom lens, but for now, you'll just have to double click on the pictures to make them bigger, but take a look at all the rows of water lilies floating amongst those cypress trees in the water. I just love them! We didn't stay long because it was windy and Gizzy was antsy, but I enjoyed the little outing and I'm thankful for having this lake so close by. Tomorrow, my friend is working at the Outpost again, so I may go and visit with her for a while. Who knows? Maybe I'll spot another alligator. These two fishermen headed in also as we walked to the car to leave:

A Gator and a Skink

Hello again from Bank's Lake. Today was a beautiful day (and still is) with a nice breeze. If you can stay away from the trees where the moist, shaded spots are, you should be ok with the mosquitoes not being too bothersome. I visited my friend (who runs Bank's Lake Outpost) with Gizzy today and we sat outside on the bench chatting about this and that (my favorite topic.) That's us: My friend, I and Gizzy! (oh, and the guy who's taking the photo) As we were sitting there talking, she pointed out an alligator to me. I left Gizzy tied up to the bench for a minute, while I walked on the dock to take a closer look. My camera doesn't have a very strong zoom lens, so I had to crop the photo to see it better: Just double-click on the photos to make them bigger and that should help. Wile I was out there by myself (without the dog) I took a few photos of some water lilies. They are all over the lake now and from a distance look like big, puffy snowballs. You can even smell them way before you get close to them (especially today with a nice breeze going.) Their scent reminds me of a mix between a passion flower and a tuberose. They smell sweet with a hint of citrus. I just love it! We watched the fishermen pull up with their boats and walking to the Outpost to purchase their crickets and such. The worms were all gone because there was a big fishing tournament yesterday. I read the paper and suddenly noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye...here came along this little skink, it's a form of a lizard, and he ran right past us and back towards the Outpost because he knows where he can find some crickets ;-) It was another beautiful day and I couldn't resist taking a few more photos: There were quite a few people canoeing and kayaking today. Here we saw what looked like to me a father and son team, coming back in: As I drove away, I saw a couple having a picnic under a tree with their three-wheel motorcycle right next to them. You see a lot of motorcycles here because it's just such a beautiful place to ride.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary...

Well, my name's not Mary and I really don't have a garden per se, but I do have some potted plants and some that I was able to plant around and outside of my apartment building. I have this big Aloe Vera plant in a pot, that really needs to be placed in the ground, but I will need to hire some muscles because it's very heavy. Unfortunately, a lot of the outside leaves got frost bitten this winter and can be discarded. I use the Aloe Plant's leaves all the time to soothe my rash that I get on my forearms when I crochet or knit too long. It really works well for me. To my surprise, it blooms yellow, not red, like I'm used to seeing, but that was in Laguna Beach California. I learned everything so different here. Around the corner, at the side of the building, I have planted some rose bushes that are blooming now. I have one yellow rose bush two red heirloom rose bushes and two pink heirloom rose bushes. They are of the smaller variety and smell very, very sweet. Right now I'm enjoying the colors, but later in the summer, I will probably make some more potpourri. Finally, I want to show you a beautiful, large Amaryllis flower. My neighbor has this plant in a pot on the porch, but they grow in the ground, plentiful like daffodils and tulips in the spring. This one is quite large. I would guess about 10" to 12" in diameter: My neighbor holding the two big blossoms together so that I can fit them in one frame. Aren't they huge?

Mein Haeuschen (mit Kurzfilm)

(BITTE MERKEN: Dass wenn man an den Bildern zweimal darauf drueckt, dann werden sie gross und sind besser zu sehen.) Da, an der Ecke wo die schoenen, rosa Azela Straeucher bluehen und die bluehenden Baeume stehen, bin ich zu Hause. Da hat gerade die Sonne so schoen hingescheint und ich wollte Euch die Bilder davon zeigen. Es ist halb 7 Uhr Abends und die Sonne geht ganz langsam unter. Am Mittwoch bekomme ich neuen Boden. Die werden den alten Teppich herausreissen und ich kriege dafuer, wie gewuenscht, Linoleum Tile boden. Dann brauche ich nur schoen abwischen und bin damit fertig. Ich freue mich darauf und werde Euch dann Bilder von innerhalb der Wohnung schicken. Noch ein kurzer Film von wenn ich heute Abend draussen um die Wohnung mit Gizzy herumgelaufen bin. Tschuess! Mein erster Kurzfilm von zuhause:

Ein Spatziergang mit Gizzy

(BITTE MERKEN: dass wenn man auf den Bildern zweimal klickd, dann werden sie gross und sind besser zu sehen.) Ich mache jetzt diesen "Post" damit meine Familie in Deutschland genau sehen kann wie die Landschaft hier aussieht wo ich wohne. Falls (oder wenn) ich etwas falsch buchstabiere, dann bitte ich um Entschuldigung, aber nachdem ich schon lange nicht mehr Deutsch spreche, habe ich leider schon viel vergessen. Deshalb versuche ich so wenig wie moeglich zu schreiben und Euch lieber die Photographien zeigen. Also, jetzt geht's los: Heute war ein besonders schoener Tag und wir sind durch den Wald und dann runter zum Teich gegangen. Da laufen wir auf dem sandigen Weg und der Gizzy zieht nach dem Wald. Weiter und weiter geht's... Dann machen wir rechts um die Ecke und in das kleine Waeldchen hinein. und jetzt sehr vorsichtig, Gizzy...aufpassen...da liegen die vielen, spitzigen Tannenzipfel am Waldboden. Da hinten links steht ein schoenes Haeuschen Langsam wird der kleine Kerl auch muede... und ich setzte ihn auf mein Waegerle und schiebe ihn weiter. Die Voegelchen zwitschern, die Libellen fliegen hin und her und die Sonne scheint schoen zwischen den Baeumen. Gizzy geniesst die Sonne und ist sehr bequem auf seinem Sitz (der eigenlich meiner sein soll). Jetzt kann er wieder ein Wenig weiter laufen, der kleine Hund im grossen Wald. Ah, jetzt sind wir bald wieder an der Strasse wo ich wohne. Da rechts ist das Brombeerfeld und hinten ist die Siedlung wo ich wohne. Jetzt machen wir links wo es der Strasse entlang zum Teich geht, welcher "Lake Irma" heisst. Am schoenen, grossen Haus vorbei wo die reiche Frau wohnt und weiter zum Teich Schoene Azalea Straeucher bluehen jetzt ueberall in weiss, rosa, orange und rot. Und jetzt koennen wir das Wasser in der Sonne glitzern sehen Das schoene, grosse Haus welches dem Teich gegenueber steht. Ich liebe es wenn die Sonne am Wasser wie Diamanten glitzert Ein anderes Haus beim Teich. Die Baeume mit den schoenen, weissen Blueten heissen "Dogwood" (Hundeholz) und die Blueten haben einen sehr schoenen Duft, aber die tragen keine Fruechte. Da links ist eine kleine Insel im Teich mit Schilf (Katzenschwanz.) Die Voegel machen dort gern ihre Nester. Noch ein anderes Haus beim Teich Jetzt geht's links wieder der Strasse hinauf zum Heimweg Schoene, kleine weisse Mini Azaleas Noch ein schoener, bluehender Dogwood Baum Azalea Strauch Schoene Bluemchen welche ein Nachbar in unserer Siedlung gepflanzt hat Und da wohne ich. Meine Wohnung ist an der Ecke mit je einen weissen Baum vorne und hinten. Und da geht es Vorne in meine Wohnung hinein. Und zum Letzten, ein paar schoene Bilder von den bluehenden Baeumen neben meiner Wohnung. Die heissen "Ornamental Pear" und haben nur kleine unessbare Fruechte. Aber die bluehen schoen im Fruehling (mit viele Bienen drin.) Auch im Herbst faerben sich die Blaetter sehr schoen und bunt. Das war unser heutiger Spatziergang. Ich hoffe es hat Euch gefallen. Es hat uns sehr gut gefallen und wir machen's bald wieder.