Monday, August 08, 2011

Bee-havior

I love the vivid red of this Rock Rose blossom, and by chance I happened to capture a bee in flight while taking this photo. The strange thing is that the bee looks to be flying upside down. I don't know much about bee flight. Do they do acrobatics while buzzing from blossom to blossom, like little stunt planes? Any apiologists out there who know?     

Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind.  
~ James Russell Lowell

4 comments:

dive said...

Wow, Ms. M. What colour!
I didn't know hibiscus grew so far north; they certainly won't grow here, except indoors. You are so lucky.
I love the way you've caught the bee. I'm not sure if they're acrobatic or just clumsy.

Ms M said...

Thank you, Dive. I love rich reds like this. I didn't know these were hibiscus; I've known them as Rock Rose. So, you've given me new information today. Around here, they start blooming in August, at the hottest point of summer.
The bee is a mystery. I did a little research online about bee flight, but none of the articles addressed flying upside down.

Petrea Burchard said...

I don't know about beecrobatics, Ms. M, but I'm glad to see a healthy bee. I've been so concerned about the Colony Collapse disorder that I'm doing what I can to attract bees to my yard and I think we all should.

I'm happy to see your "blossom and bee" shot!

Ms M said...

I think you're right, Petrea, about attracting bees. We've got flowers / plants in our yard, too, to attract them, including a white Rock Rose -- or hibiscus -- bush, which keeps them very busy. Maybe this bee is just happy.