Everyone’s talking about the unseasonable weather. Too hot, too cold, no snow, too much rain.
Here in eastern France, after a glorious autumn and then a first snowfall that was properly timed and then quickly melted, it’s been warm.
So warm, in fact, that a few of the bees under the eaves left their protective winter huddle and ventured out to explore the winter landscape, which sees our hydrangeas budding and otherwise dormant flowers starting to blossom.
Bee on a window shutter
Photos: PKR
The bees wander around the outside of the house.
They attempt winter pollination of the holiday floral decorations.
They must be so confused.
As are we.
Bee on a winter rose (Helleborus orientalis)
Last summer, I’ve noticed fewer bees in my back garden… “What’s the buzz..tell me what’s a happening…?”
Thanks for stopping by, Julie! Actually, European bees have had it pretty good the last couple of years, since the EU banned the use of neonicotinoids as pesticides. Unfortunately, the super hot summer of 2015 also meant that bees didn’t have the blossom resources they usually do, nor the access to water. A local beekeeper told me that where we live, the bees were having to fly farther and higher to access pollen (from the pine trees in the nearby Jura) and water because the Geneva area was so dry. I put out little watering dishes for the bees and they were well-visited. As with the birds, bees can use all the help they can get, both winter and summer. 😉