Adding to my collection of bees; herewith my first Irish one.
For context, this bee had its head stuck into a fuchsia flower, on a hedge of fuchsia as tall as I am. The hedge was in the expansive gardens of Kylemore Abbey, one of Ireland’s premier attractions.
Me, I like the bee. As long as he keeps his head where it is.
Those fuchsia hedges are spectacular, aren’t they? With climate change rushing upon us, I’m going to try growing a fuchsia outdoors here in the Okanagan. If they can stand an Irish winter….
Jim T
Jim – We had some discussion on our trip whether a different cultivar (is that the right word?) is needed to grow a hedge, or whether you can just put a hanging-basket plant in the ground and stand back. Let me know how your hedge goes. That would be spectacular.
Isabel
I see that you’re not only growing a hedge, you’re hedging your bets. Just last week you told me you didn’t like bees; now you’ve shifted to “as long as they keep their distance.” Well, in fairness, it was wasps you said you didn’t like, but bees, even though necessary, are still bees to me.
I love that fuchsia colour!
On another note though, I wonder who came up with that word. It’s a beautiful flower but a strange word and a strange spelling.
Tom
Tom – Having been stung once by a wasp, I am more cautious of them than bees, a not entirely logical reaction, for sure. Indeed, having a family history of allergic reactions to bee/wasp stings, I should be more careful with all of them, likely.
Tom – I just remembered to look it up. Here’s what Wiki has to say about fuchsia: “Fuchsia (/ˈfjuËʃə/, FEW-shÉ™) is a vivid purplish red color, named after the color of the flower of the fuchsia plant, which took its name from the 16th century German botanist Leonhart Fuchs.” I should discover a plant. Gibsonia has a nice ring, no?
Your photo of the abbey should be on all of Ireland’s travel promotions as visual poetry.
Laurna – Thank you kindly. I think they have several pretty good shots of it already, though. 🙂
Incredible pictures!!
I love that fancy looking bee 🙂
Fuchsias seem to be a pollinator favourite here too
Kate 🙂
Kate – I did not know that about fuchsias. Thanks!
I love the Bee! He’s very unique looking with his shaggy stripes. I have a friend who’s a Beekeeper, I’m curious if she can identify the type
Alison – Excellent! Maybe he’s like the gull: a Greater Irish Bee.