Comments on: The buzz http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/the-buzz/ a garden journal about public garden maintenance, seasonal tasks, garden events, stories about gardening, volunteers, flowers, bugs and wildlife Sat, 15 Jun 2013 22:23:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kira http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/the-buzz/comment-page-1/#comment-8234 Kira Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:14:40 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=3949#comment-8234 When I was at Blithewold today I could not believe the bees, dragonflies and butterflies all over the garden! The flower beds were so alive with them, buzzing and flying. It was really something. I had the same experience - I walked along the flagstone paths, brushing against the plants and the bees didn't really seem to take notice of me. It was a lovely moment of coexistence. I wish we had more bees in our yard. <em>Kira, You will soon find out (I have every confidence) that if you plant it, they will come! They do have certain kinds of favorites... -kris</em> When I was at Blithewold today I could not believe the bees, dragonflies and butterflies all over the garden! The flower beds were so alive with them, buzzing and flying. It was really something. I had the same experience – I walked along the flagstone paths, brushing against the plants and the bees didn’t really seem to take notice of me. It was a lovely moment of coexistence. I wish we had more bees in our yard.

Kira, You will soon find out (I have every confidence) that if you plant it, they will come! They do have certain kinds of favorites… -kris

]]> By: Susan Sims http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/the-buzz/comment-page-1/#comment-8191 Susan Sims Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:06:41 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=3949#comment-8191 I found this in Fine Gardening, Chris. http://www.finegardening.com/item/16024/historic-grandeur You keep holding out Blithewold gems from us...you tease! <em>I've shown pictures of that fountain, haven't I??!! I was going to post our Fine Gardening links today - but how cool that you found them first! -kris</em> I found this in Fine Gardening, Chris.
http://www.finegardening.com/item/16024/historic-grandeur
You keep holding out Blithewold gems from us…you tease!

I’ve shown pictures of that fountain, haven’t I??!! I was going to post our Fine Gardening links today – but how cool that you found them first! -kris

]]> By: John http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/the-buzz/comment-page-1/#comment-8172 John Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:30:09 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=3949#comment-8172 We keep bees in Western Cranston. Fascinating. A few weeks ago, we had a bad experience (our mistake, somehow) that resulted in my having a dozen stings on the neck and above and a dozen below (yes, I wear protective clothing...) Nobody could decisively tell us what we did wrong, I think it was a result of overcrowding. Needless to say, an illuminating experience. After that, though I don't need one, we decided to keep an Epi-pen on hand, because who knows when a guest from the city, with a child in tow, discovers an inknown allergy. <em>John, how scary to have them gang up on you like that! And so lucky that you're not allergic - though if you were, you'd only need one sting to need the epi-pen, not dozens (ouch!) -kris</em> We keep bees in Western Cranston. Fascinating.
A few weeks ago, we had a bad experience (our mistake, somehow) that resulted in my having a dozen stings on the neck and above and a dozen below (yes, I wear protective clothing…) Nobody could decisively tell us what we did wrong, I think it was a result of overcrowding. Needless to say, an illuminating experience.

After that, though I don’t need one, we decided to keep an Epi-pen on hand, because who knows when a guest from the city, with a child in tow, discovers an inknown allergy.

John, how scary to have them gang up on you like that! And so lucky that you’re not allergic – though if you were, you’d only need one sting to need the epi-pen, not dozens (ouch!) -kris

]]> By: Chookie http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/the-buzz/comment-page-1/#comment-8167 Chookie Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:02:22 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=3949#comment-8167 I've certainly been stung by bees but the European honeybees in Australia have very mild stings -- nettle-stings are considerably more painful and long-lasting. Most of our native bees are stingless. I have seen numerous wasp species around our garden but none have stung me because I don't bother them, apart from checking whether they are European Wasps. The latter can overwinter in our climate and as a result the hives can become huge, and thus a real threat to life as all the wasps will attack at once. We have a lovely bird here called a Bee-eater which I have seen at work on a paper-wasp nest. The bird flies up, pecks the nest, and catches a wasp on the wing. It waits until the wasps settle down again and then repeats the process until it has had a good meal. Fascinating! <em>Chookie, no doubt about it, you have the most fascinating wildlife in your part of the world! And so funny that you mentioned nettle - I was actually stung that and can say for certain that rubbing basil on it won't help. Do not rub a nettle sting, period! I sort of forgot that... -kris</em> I’ve certainly been stung by bees but the European honeybees in Australia have very mild stings — nettle-stings are considerably more painful and long-lasting. Most of our native bees are stingless. I have seen numerous wasp species around our garden but none have stung me because I don’t bother them, apart from checking whether they are European Wasps. The latter can overwinter in our climate and as a result the hives can become huge, and thus a real threat to life as all the wasps will attack at once.
We have a lovely bird here called a Bee-eater which I have seen at work on a paper-wasp nest. The bird flies up, pecks the nest, and catches a wasp on the wing. It waits until the wasps settle down again and then repeats the process until it has had a good meal. Fascinating!

Chookie, no doubt about it, you have the most fascinating wildlife in your part of the world! And so funny that you mentioned nettle – I was actually stung that and can say for certain that rubbing basil on it won’t help. Do not rub a nettle sting, period! I sort of forgot that… -kris

]]> By: Layanee http://blog.blithewold.org/how-when-what/the-buzz/comment-page-1/#comment-8154 Layanee Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:08:16 +0000 http://blog.blithewold.org/?p=3949#comment-8154 The wasps look frightening don't they? I have been stung but that will never keep me out of the garden. Nice post, Kris. I have to come by to see that vegetable garden. <em>Layanee, that cicada killer is just so huge... Even though I know it's not interested in me, I'm going to stay out of the way. Hope you come by soon!! - kris</em> The wasps look frightening don’t they? I have been stung but that will never keep me out of the garden. Nice post, Kris. I have to come by to see that vegetable garden.

Layanee, that cicada killer is just so huge… Even though I know it’s not interested in me, I’m going to stay out of the way. Hope you come by soon!! – kris

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