The Blog at Help Save Bees

         

It has been a gloriously sunny, warm morning, and I’ve just spotted the distinct profile of the most humungous queen bumblebee coming in to land on the distinctive stalks of a flowering Fatsia japonica. The star burst flower heads, coming to an end, sit jutting out on their white stalks,  framed by the plants distinctive lime green leaves, still offer an opportunity for a much needed snack.

I am delighted by the sighting of this preposterously large ‘Buff-Tailed’ queen bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, and I hope that it is over-wintering near by, unfortunately, in my rush to grab my camera and dash into the garden, leaving much to be desired with my photography skills being overtaken by my excitement to capture the bee before it buzzed off!

Find out more about the Buff-Tailed Bumblebee ‘Bombus terrestris’

And this link to ‘Gardening with Wildlife in Mind’  

Here is a great selection of downloadable leaflets on 'Gardening to attract Wildlife'

Vanishing of the Bees explores the mysterious collapse of the bee population across the planet and its greater meaning about mankind’s relationship with the natural world. In addition to studying our reliance on the honeybee as the cornerstone of modern agriculture, the documentary celebrates the ancient relationship between humans and bees.

In December world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to try to reach a global deal to tackle climate change. To support the launch of the Climate Change10:10 campaign to reduce carbon emissions, the Guardian Review asked some of our greatest artists, authors and poets to produce new work in response to the crisis. Below is Carol Ann Duffy's piece.

A bee stung Eros on the nose
While he was smelling on a rose
"Mother Venus,  ay,ay,ay
Please help me or I’ll die
What a terrible disgrace
A dragon bit me on my face"!
Venus comforts first her son
then speaks to him with mocking fun:
The little bee's tiny sting
Is for you an earnest thing
But more painful and real hard
are your stings in human’s heart.

A. Dürer, 1514: Eros, Venus and the bees

Pooh is scared of Heffalumps and Woozles. He loves eating honey, and he especially loves that moment just before you eat honey. He also loves counting honeypots & dislikes counting Heffalumps.

     

I recently found, discovered or was sent the above photos. They are just such extravagant examples of 'Bug Houses' at their grandest. They have also inspired me to create my own ‘Bee & Bug Tower’, which I’ll feature later on this week.

One of the easiest things one can do to help Bees, Bugs and other Insects to thrive is to create an environment that they will want to visit, whether you have a garden an allotment patch or bigger: Plants are crucial to their survival. See some fabulous Bee friendly plants here: http://tinyurl.com/n8o286

Once you have managed to attract them to your garden, they will need somewhere to live. You can encourage them to stay be creating ‘mini habitat homes’ using various plant materials, recycled pots, wooden creates, blocks of wood, logs, stem from plants you have pruned, old bamboos, etc…

Of course, they don’t have to be on this scale to still attract all types of bee, bug or insect.

       

Silk Wrap ’Bumblebee’ Dress

“A pretty dress that is so versatile, hand printed in gorgeous Bumble Bees, in a pretty shade of blue! Wear alone or take it into the Autumn with a shirt or roll neck underneath & add a pair of jeans & you've got yourself a real 'Trans-seasonal' gem.”

I love this design, available from the ethical and sustainable fashion website, www.mygreenlipstick.com. Designed by Ciel, it uses Bumblebees as its motif and is extremely pretty, simple and chic.

Help Save Bees Followers will receive a 20% discount on the dress if purchased on or before 30th September. Enter HSB09 at the checkout http://www.mygreenlipstick.com/products/212/silkwrapdress/#
 
A small % will also be donated to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/)

The dress retails at £169 and is made from the finest 100% silk.

I’ve always liked having a rummage through Junk/Antique shops. I just cannot resist one when I drive through a village and discover a new one. There are a few good ones here in Chichester that I pop into whenever I have a spare moment.