Ophelia's Rue. Wasp, Dolichovespula sp., on Ruta graveolens, Common Rue, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In Shakepeare's Hamlet crazed Ophelia just before her death distributes flowers from her bouquet. Among these is this pretty Ruta graveolens, known to her as a Herb of Grace. She deals it out as a sign of or rather an urging for repentance, of rue.
How difficult it is to repent or to change one's ways is demonstrated - fittingly for this photo - in Aristophanes's (416-386) play The Wasps in which the chorus at the end makes exactly this point. Our Dolichovespula doesn't understand Greek but merrily collects her nectar...
Ophelia's Rue. Wasp, Dolichovespula sp., on Ruta graveolens, Common Rue, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
In Shakepeare's Hamlet crazed Ophelia just before her death distributes flowers from her bouquet. Among these is this pretty Ruta graveolens, known to her as a Herb of Grace. She deals it out as a sign of or rather an urging for repentance, of rue.
How difficult it is to repent or to change one's ways is demonstrated - fittingly for this photo - in Aristophanes's (416-386) play The Wasps in which the chorus at the end makes exactly this point. Our Dolichovespula doesn't understand Greek but merrily collects her nectar...