The Nature of Things

Most of the native redbuds in the area have been in bloom for several days now, but my specimen is a variety that was purchased from a nursery. It's called 'Forest Pansy' and its blooms always come about a week later. This week the buds are popping out all over and the bees are feasting. Yes, it really is spring here!

When the redbud trees are in bloom, they are pollinator magnets. Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators all love these little flowers, but it seems that bees love them most of all. Bees of all kinds, both native bees and honeybees, respond to the call of the blossoms. Most of the time, all these different pollinators feed together in perfect harmony, but yesterday I observed what appeared to be a battle between two bees - although quite honestly most of the "battling" seemed to be on one side. A large carpenter bee - big black bee - was feeding peacefully on the blossoms when a bumblebee seemed to take exception to his presence. He buzzed the other bee and bumped into him, seemingly trying to dislodge him from the flowers. (The carpenter bee is on the left, bumblebee on right.) The angry buzzing and bumping went on for several minutes. Meanwhile, the carpenter bee seemed totally oblivious and continued placidly enjoying his visit to the flowers. Finally, the b...