This afternoon the sun came out, but my house was cold, so I took my lunch into the garden and sat in the sunshine, on the edge of the planter box. A few inches away several plants were draping their heavy, flowery stems over the brick area between my seat and the fig tree: Milkweed, salvia, borage, oregano, and lavender were all tucked in close together. The bees were loving it. Carpenter bees, honeybees, some little bees I didn’t recognize. It’s very sweet to be able to take a few steps out my back door and find myself in a world where a thousand tiny creatures are flying about and feasting.
My hands were occupied, I couldn’t take pictures of them, and that was nice for a change. I did take pictures on other days so I am sharing those here. The two just above are from the front garden, where the pincushion flowers are a bit hit. Leafcutter is new to me. While she was buzzing around and I first caught glimpses of all that yellow, I thought maybe it was pollen. But no, it’s not on her legs, it’s her own body that’s so bright. [But YES, shoreacres explains in a comment below, while it’s not on her legs, it is indeed pollen!]
Yes, the pollinators love all these flowers, too: the white echinacea, germander, and salvia clevelandii. I took the picture above just after I propped up the pincushion flowers that grew to 6 feet, looking for the sun. I hadn’t realized that that area is now Part Shade, because of the crape myrtle. I’ll have to move the pincushions in the fall; it’s quite a jumble in there with the flowers in back shorter than the ones in front. I’m in no hurry to do it as long as the bees are so happy.
My first draft of this post was just the poem and painting below,
but then my own bees got added to Emily’s.
It’s all we have.
IT’S ALL I HAVE TO BRING TODAY
It’s all I have to bring today —
This, and my heart beside —
This, and my heart, and all the fields —
And all the meadows wide —
Be sure you count — should I forget
Some one the sum could tell —
This, and my heart, and all the Bees
Which in the Clover dwell.
-Emily Dickinson
Gladsome Lights 
HI Joanna… your work always heals I will take it all… and rejoice best able … in the expansive enlargement of Love’s healing power .thank you all of you completely..gratefully Merri
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Your leafcutter bee was yellow because of pollen. They don’t carry it on their legs; instead, it adheres to the underside of their abdomen: no pollen ‘saddlebags’ on their legs for them! This article has some great photos to go along with the interesting text.
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Oh!
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As always, Linda, you are the best kind of blog reader anyone could want! Thank you.
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Your garden is amazing.
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Thank you for looking around with me, Sandi!
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Well, I am pleased you added your bees to the mix for I always enjoy seeing glimpses of your garden! The poem – and the painting – is lovely.
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I’m so glad you like seeing the garden. Thank you, Anne!
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Your garden is absolutely amazing! It makes me so happy to see a true paradise for the pollinators.
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Me, too ❤️
Thank you, Maria.
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Oh my! I am looking at your garden in awe! How does one person do all this and bring all this beauty together? You are totally amazing.
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That is so interesting…the information on Leaf Cutter bees. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one though. Maybe we don’t have them. I’m glad you included the pictures of your flowers and the bees and the poem💖
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Nature is the best kind of entertainment. Your walkway is delightful! I didn’t realize there are some bees who carry pollen on their abdomens. ❤️
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