How's your flowers, Pops?

[burglar]

... this little beauty ...

Do you know how blessed you are?

 

[Whiskers]

Flowers are nice... nicer if they smell good ... even nicer still if I can eat the bastards after all the effort I put into looking after the little sods :... ie when the flowers develop into something I can eat.

Looks like I'm gonna be blessed with a decent crop of mangoes this year, mainly a consequence of a dry winter as the flowers were setting fruit.

Citrus always smells nice in flower... and fresh juice is much nicer than the bought stuff.

 

[cynic]

I never thought that much of flowers until I got some bees in my hive.

My bees love flowers.

So now I love flowers (the friend of my friend is also my friend)!

It's amazing how having bees in one's hive can enable one to appreciate nature's beauty!

 

[burglar]

I never thought that much of flowers until I got some bees in my hive ...

To bee or not to bee, that is the question!

 

[cynic]

To bee or not to bee, that is the question!

Some posters need to learn when to buzz off and just let it BEE!

Ohh! I forgot whose thread this was - apologies!
Buzzing off!

 

[Boggo]

I never thought that much of flowers until I got some bees in my hive.

My bees love flowers.

So now I love flowers (the friend of my friend is also my friend)!

It's amazing how having bees in one's hive can enable one to appreciate nature's beauty!

My father was an apiarist, his weekend hobby which he was very proud of.
Amazing little creatures, he had 24 hives at one point when we were kids.

He taught us lots about their behaviour, drones, queen bees, bar frames, section frames and extractors etc.
Got a few stings too but learned how to get them out quickly without squeezing them.

 

[pixel]

Flowers are nice... [...].. even nicer still if I can eat the bastards after all the effort I put into looking after the little sods :

Citrus always smells nice in flower... and fresh juice is much nicer than the bought stuff.

I can sooo relate to you, Whiskers
And I find it nicer still if I can DRINK the fruit. Try mixing these little beauties with some sugar, water, and add Champagne yeast ... then just wait, and the result will be eminently potable :




here is the recipe: http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/reques9.asp

 

[cynic]

My father was an apiarist, his weekend hobby which he was very proud of.
Amazing little creatures, he had 24 hives at one point when we were kids.

He taught us lots about their behaviour, drones, queen bees, bar frames, section frames and extractors etc.
Got a few stings too but learned how to get them out quickly without squeezing them.

Yes - truly fascinating creatures!

I could almost swear that mine are telepathic.

Visitors to my property have often complained of being stung, however, even when mowing the grass and weeds around the tree stump upon which my beehive is situated, I am never stung by them.

I think they've recognised my place within their heirarchy.

 

[burglar]

Word of the day!

Apiculturist:

a·pi·cul·ture ( p -k l ch r). n. The raising and care of bees for commercial or
agricultural purposes.

 

[Boggo]

Yes - truly fascinating creatures!

Visitors to my property have often complained of being stung, however, even when mowing the grass and weeds around the tree stump upon which my beehive is situated, I am never stung by them.

I have seen evidence of that on many occasions. My father would seldom get stung but if anyone else went near them they would always find the bit of skin that was exposed.

 

[Boggo]

Keep planting those flowers folks...
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/bees-on-brink-of-extinction/story-fneuz8wn-1226734215228

 

[Ijustnewit]

An explosion of Spring Colour , sorry I don't know the plant name but have them everywhere in the gardens with various different colours.



And two unusual varieties of Tulip

 

[Julia]

Top one is an azalea. Great colour.

 

[pixel]

Top one is an azalea. Great colour.

bottom one shows two tulips.
The one in front is really an exotic specimen, with the frayed petal tips. (I don't suppose you took the pinking shears to them, did you? : )

 

[Tink]

Yes its very pretty this time of year, all the colours in the garden.
I like azaleas too, very nice, as well as camellias.

In the bottom photo, on the left, the shoots/leaves look like a hydrangea, I like those also.
I lost one of mine last year, and I think I have managed to strike a new plant from a cutting.

 

[burglar]

This one popped out this morning!

 

[burglar]

 

[DocK]

My local Bunnings were selling a new "Sunpatiens" which apparently could take full sun and humidity. I've enjoyed New Guinea impatiens in a shady spot in the past, and they did well until a drought hit...

I decided to give this new variety a try in a spot that gets morning shade and afternoon sun - the opposite conditions to those that I'd usually consider for an impatiens. So far, so good - although it is being lightly watered morning and afternoon. If I'd known how well they'd do I'd have put in more of them - may find room for some yet.

 

[Ijustnewit]

Word of the day!

Apiculturist:

a·pi·cul·ture ( p -k l ch r). n. The raising and care of bees for commercial or
agricultural purposes.

One common variety garden bee today in Hobart



And the big bomber the introduced Tasmanian Bumble bee , this one about 1 inch in length . How they get off the ground is a miracle.

 

[burglar]

In the rain!