Congregating on Purple. Early Bumblebee, Bombus pratorum, and Anthidium manicatum, European Wool Carder Bee, on Stachys officinalis, Betony, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
It was dark and wet as I made my way to a patch of Betony, Stachys officinalis, in the pretty Hortus Botanicus. Perhaps, I thought, it would help bewitch the weather into something more sunny... Traditionally Betony was thought to ward off evil spirits as even Desiderius Erasmus relates - who died yesterday in 1536 - a humanist not given to superstition.
Regardless the glum morning, Early Bumblebees (see inset) were out in full force foraging rather placidly on the pretty purple flowers. Then there was a spot of sunlight and it took all of three minutes for Anthidium manicatum, the European Wool Carder Bees, to disturb the peace, as it were, with their seemingly erratic collection. A bit of shadow and they were gone again; then back when the Sun came out. Back and forth, back and forth. A bit like Yours Truly who'd flee into the Greenhouse when another torrent of rain descended, and return to Betony when it lifted...
Congregating on Purple. Early Bumblebee, Bombus pratorum, and Anthidium manicatum, European Wool Carder Bee, on Stachys officinalis, Betony, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
It was dark and wet as I made my way to a patch of Betony, Stachys officinalis, in the pretty Hortus Botanicus. Perhaps, I thought, it would help bewitch the weather into something more sunny... Traditionally Betony was thought to ward off evil spirits as even Desiderius Erasmus relates - who died yesterday in 1536 - a humanist not given to superstition.
Regardless the glum morning, Early Bumblebees (see inset) were out in full force foraging rather placidly on the pretty purple flowers. Then there was a spot of sunlight and it took all of three minutes for Anthidium manicatum, the European Wool Carder Bees, to disturb the peace, as it were, with their seemingly erratic collection. A bit of shadow and they were gone again; then back when the Sun came out. Back and forth, back and forth. A bit like Yours Truly who'd flee into the Greenhouse when another torrent of rain descended, and return to Betony when it lifted...