GBBD: The Bulbs & Bees

I am so excited. The bulbs that I planted last fall have emerged and are beginning to bloom.  You may be wondering why I am so ecstatic over a few little bulbs. Well, these are the first bulbs that have been planted at Southern Meadows. We have an ostensibly large vole population that has devoured so many of our plants that I have always hesitated planting bulbs. But due to our proactive measures of lining the beds with chicken wire and small rock they survived the demise of the voles.

The Daffodil hanging its head before it begins to open.

Slowly it begins to lift its head as it opens.

The tightly wrapped layers begin to unfold.

Until finally it reveals its full face.

A close up of the important parts (dare I say reproductive parts) of the flower.

Here is the rear view of the bloom. Good thing I am talking about a flower otherwise this would be downright scandalous.

Other bulbs planted this fall are these beautiful hyacinths. 

They are incredibly fragrant and colorful. Color serves to attract honeybees, which unlike most insects, have color vision.

 

My hyacinths have succeeded in attracting the pollinators! Here they come...

And, in for the landing...

If you take a look at the back legs of the bee you can see the large pollen sacks. It is grabbing pollen from one bloom and taking it to the next.

I had a great time watching these busy bees hard at work. They didn't even seem to mind my camera lens poking in their faces.

I was so focused on the bees that I didn't even notice the first Black Swallowtail of the year until I lifted my head out of the flowers. I felt a bit like Flower the Skunk from the Disney story Bambi who always had her nose down in the flowers. Like bees, butterflies and moths also have keenly developed senses of smell and are great pollinators. They smell with their antennae and taste with their feet.

Today is Garden Blogger Bloom Day and this is my first time posting. I hope you will go over to May Dreams Gardens and see what other gardeners around the world have blooming in their gardens.

Happy Gardening!