I think lots of us are craving some "normal" right now. Something brighter.

For me, the good news is that the bulbs are starting to fire - first the crocuses - then the daffs - some hyacinths now and just a couple of days ago the first tulips.

And our bees came back. Our beekeeper friend just dropped off a couple of hives in our back yard and we're expecting one more. That makes me (with my camera) happy.

Here's a shot of a beautiful girl who had just gotten into the Siberian Squill. I love the blue pollen!


Even under lockdown and social distancing and quarantine and whatever else, it's a great time to be outside investing - looking forward - perpetuating cycles and growth.

And here's some yellow pollen from the crocuses:

Ordered soil testing kits last fall, but never had the chance to dig up my soil samples. Finally got to it this past weekend while I was social distancing. Samples are drying on newspaper right now, but I should have PLENTY OF TIME to put them in the bags and send them in now!

nice soil I'm jealous and would like a few samples of it myself

Wow, bees with blue and yellow pollen, plants, beautiful soil. I am getting excited just looking at the above photos. I call all of it good news.

Snowcaps? I think?

Love those, whatever they are!

Snowdrops Galanthus

Here's one I haven't published yet on my daily bee site (https://bees.photo) - so you get a sneak peek. No doom when a bumble is on a cone flower!

Iris reticulata



Crocus





Daffodils






Topolino


Tulips
Inside (forced)

Asa, if you ever did a piece on your bees and colors of pollen, there is a fall bulb bloomer that has green pollen called 'Bessera'.

jmorth said:Asa, if you ever did a piece on your bees and colors of pollen, there is a fall bulb bloomer that has green pollen called 'Bessera'.

Neat! I'll have to have a look. I'm pretty sure we don't have any. But I seem to recall having some green pollen somewhere... Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Another crocus

evermorelawnless said:Here's one I haven't published yet on my daily bee site (https://bees.photo) - so you get a sneak peek. No doom when a bumble is on a cone flower!

Lawn is now a meadow.

Spring ALWAYS comes.....



Notice the lawn mower in the background...the smell of fresh grass.



The ajuga was a kind gift from a yard worker who was asked to tear it out of a neighbor's yard.

Is 'just because the sun is shining' okay for posting here?

Cornflower opening day.



The Polly Kinsman-Violet Polmanteer memory bed. // Blaring Gale TB Iris front and center.



Loon Lake SDB Iris, with Golden Oregano in the background to the left.



Grass is overrated.



Taiyo Tree Peony. Blooming two weeks ahead of usual.

evermorelawnless said:Our bees came back. Our beekeeper friend just dropped off a couple of hives in our back yard and we're expecting one more.

Ha! I was wondering if you had any beehives of your own....

evermorelawnless said:Even under lockdown and social distancing and quarantine and whatever else, it's a great time to be outside investing - looking forward - perpetuating cycles and growth.

Asa ~ You are SO right! Any of us who are able to get outside, should do exactly that. And those of you that are lucky enough to have even the tiniest of gardens...count your blessings as so many city dwellers don't even have a balcony on which to put a planter box or even a small pot.

I am truly grateful to have enough land (but not necessarily the energy) in which to build gardens, (but not necessarily grateful for the hungry deer!)

Thank you Asa for sharing your passion for bees, and having the skills and ambition to take such beautiful pictures of those lovely creatures, and taking the time to share them with us!

Thank you all for the kind words. I've been a little agitated lately. And I find some solace in sharing what I see - and the joy that I feel as I do.

evermorelawnless said:Thank you all for the kind words. I've been a little agitated lately. And I find some solace in sharing what I see - and the joy that I feel as I do.

I can't thank you all enough for posting these wonderful signs of life.
Still very cold here in rural Maine, but brave daffs are peaking through the snow!
We have forsythia, lilacs, redbud tree budded out.
Life is all around us.
Please keep posting these uplifting photos and messages.

I can't thank you all enough for posting these wonderful signs of life.
Still very cold here in rural Maine, but brave daffs are peaking through the snow!
We have forsythia, lilacs, redbud tree budded out.
Life is all around us.
Please keep posting these uplifting photos and messages.