“The bees are flying. They taste the spring.” – Sylvia Plath, from “Wintering”
I saw my first bees of 2010 today.
Here is how it happened: On a quick walk at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, I spotted this weeping, flowering tree in the distance.
Now, weeping trees act like magnets upon me, especially when they are in bloom. It was a bizarre revelation to me to discover a couple of years ago that some people do not even like weeping trees, not even a little bit, considering them gloomy, perhaps because their form is titled “weeping.”
Basically how it works for me is that I see one and then imagine standing beneath it, totally enveloped in blossoms or dangling foliage, just like I did as a little girl with my very first experience of a young weeping willow. It’s pure magic to be able to get inside the protective embrace of a tree, and while in the “weeping” shape is pretty much the only time a tree gets to put its arms around a human being.
So of course I had to go stand beneath this one. Immediately. (And fortunately the paths in that area were so nebulous as to be undefined, so there was nothing standing in my way.)
It was delightful, surrounded by a dome of frilly pink blossoms* and perfect blue sky, with just the merest hint of fragrance in the air. I was transported to that place of utter rapture, as sometimes happens to me in nature.
Naturally, the bees had found this glorious haven to their liking, also. We both enjoyed each other’s company there under the pink and blue canopy. Well, at least, I enjoyed theirs. I’m not sure they had time to notice me much.
They were busy, moving so fast that most of their portraits are blurred.
I was so delighted to see them after our long months apart. I’d missed them, without even realizing it.
* The tree in question was unlabeled, but I’m guessing it’s a peach tree. It looked like one, and it smelled faintly like one. You’d think I’d be certain of this, seeing as I was raised to be a “Georgia Peach,” myself. But I’m not. The blossoms of peach, cherry, and plum look pretty interchangeable to me when they are in their ruffly double form, and the ones bred for their looks alone often are not as fragrant as the flowers that go on to make edible fruit. Please do enlighten me if you can make a proper identification of this beauty.
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I wonder how the honey got mostly from Prunus trees taste like. In this part of the world, we love honey mostly got from coconuts and coffee flowers, it is colored yellow. We normally dont like the honey coming from trees and colored dark brown.
How interesting, Andrea. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted honey from coconut or coffee flowers. I love to have a whole range of colors and tastes of honey in my cupboard, and even learned to chew on the comb like gum as a child (and still do.)
My personal favorite is Tupelo honey, made from the blossoms of the tupelo tree that grows in the marshy coastal areas of the Southern states. It’s delicious!
Lucky you! I haven’t seen any bees yet, but our flowering quince is beginning to bloom, so the bees can’t be far behind. I am so glad to see spring coming!
debsgarden´s last blog ..Waging War with Invasives
Deb, I’m sure they are right around the corner. Because we’re in a little hollow, I think our home garden is in a slightly cooler microclimate than the Botanical Gardens, and we’ve yet to see a single bee here. Any day now…
We’ve seen a few bees here, but not many. Our weather has been so changeable of late, the smart bees I think are hunkering down until spring is really in full swing. Your bee looks very happy to have found the blooms on your mystery weeping tree though.
Curbstone Valley Farm´s last blog ..Xylaria hypoxylon
Oh, CV, I do hope that spring is truly here for us and no hunkering down is necessary. No one can know for sure, I guess. Wishing you more spring!
Dear Meredith, I am so encouraged when people are writing about and picturing bees as I really do believe, from what I read, that there is a world wide problem with them. We must all do whatever we can to encourage them and, as you are doing here, promote awareness.
The pink blossom is lovely.
Edith Hope´s last blog ..Ladders, Loppers and Lawsuits
Edith, I’m glad you liked the blossoms. The plight of the honeybee is never far from my consciousness, especially when in the garden. My grandfather alerted me to their disappearance one summer many years ago, ahead of the reports in the news, and I’ve never taken them for granted since!
It is a happy time when we see bees again – I saw my first one yesterday.
Your images are lovely
K
Karen – An Artist’s Garden´s last blog ..My Reading List for March -
Thank you, Karen. It’s lovely to hear that we both saw our “firsts” on the same day, across the ocean from one another.
Those double blooms are so beautiful – we’ll be waiting a while longer for our first thrilling bee buzzing up north!
Cyndy´s last blog ..“I Just Hate Potentillas!”
Cyndy, I hope you’ll stop by here and enjoy a little spring preview while you wait patiently.
The title of your last blog caused me to immediately click. Well done!
Oh what joy to see your first bee of the year Meredith – your post conveys the magic of the moment. I have not spotted one here yet but that event can’t be far off. Beautiful blossoms.
Anna´s last blog ..‘What A Lady’
I’m glad I can give everyone up North a preview of coming attractions.
It was a magical moment, Anna, and thank you for your lovely comment.
I have worried about the bees and all the reports that they are vanishing, but it looks like this one found a dandy home.
Lynn´s last blog ..Lured, not at all and treasures
Lynn, the reports are quite scary. I mean, without our pollinators, we’re toast. And another population of pollinators in North America, the bats, are entering the danger zone now, too. I’ve been following the bees’ progress and the scientific consensus for a while now. Your comment + Edith’s are making me wonder if I ought not to add it all up in a little post sometime.
I saw a bee on Saturday!!!! It made me smile, it landed on my wellie.
I adore weeping trees I too lie under them and feel that mother nature is giving me a hug. There is one very overgrown one up the coast from me and many years ago Andrew and I both lay down and no one could even see us, we had a blessful nap in the hot afternoon.
Carrie´s last blog ..Reclaiming my Bloomin’ Monday!
Aw, Carrie, it gave you a kiss on your toe.
And a nap under a weeping tree sounds like the stuff of paradise! 
Gorgeous photos, and I love the idea of being surrounded by flowers or foliage! When I was a child, I used to climb the apricot tree in our backyard up onto the flat roof of the garage where the branches made a little hidden, sheltered, leafy haven. It was a great place to read or daydream.
I love hearing about your little haven, Kathy. I had my beloved sheltered spots as a child, too, and sometimes wonder if those moments of peace and daydreams in nature don’t define us somehow.
These are such lovely touches of spring! You’re further along then we are and have given me a glimpse of what I have to look forward to!
eoweller´s last blog ..The Infinite: dancing from the tips of our fingers through the bottoms of our toes…
Eoweller, I’m glad I could give you a peek at coming attractions.
Spring is my favorite season, so I’m sure I’ll be revealing plenty more in the coming months.
You know, having all my blogging friends spread around the world in various climate zones allows me to experience the wonder of spring vicariously a number of times through their blogs before we will experience ours. I love this post, Meredith, with your ‘inside’ look at spring from within the canopy of the flowering fruit tree in the company of bees. If there’s a better way of conveying what spring is all about, I don’s know what that would be.
Hank´s last blog ..Canada’s Garden Making Magazine
Hank, I know what you mean about the vicarious pleasures in the blog world. Some of those tropical blogs and desert blogs that bloomed all winter were keeping my spirits up when things were so cold and dreary here. And I’ve been watching the spring creep northward from South Georgia and Alabama and the coastline for about a month now.
You are too kind with the compliments! Thank you.
So lovely! Like Hank, it’s wonderful to experience spring vicariously before the actual event begins in our area.
Like you, I love immersing myself in the blossoms and there’s something magical about the humming of the bees.
Talon´s last blog ..Darn near perfect…
Talon, that hum is as delicious as honey somehow.
I’m so envious of your bees! I love weeping trees. There is something so nostalgic and romantic about them. They evoke thoughts of long warm southern days sipping iced tea with a hint of mint. I’ve tried several times to grow weeping willows, but each time they die in our super cold winters and hard freezes.
“Romantic and nostalgic” is a perfect way of expressing their charm.
I’m sorry that you can’t grow weeping willows. For some reason, I’d imagined them to be ubiquitous, able to grow anywhere there’s water… but of course they must be limited by cold tolerance, like everything else.
Here’s hoping you get to see the bees soon where you are, Shelly!
I love going to botanical gardens for inspiration. I have plans to plant a native persimmon this year. Thanks for sharing your breath of spring.
MNGarden´s last blog ..Paphiopedilum Hybrid
I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a persimmon. They just sound yummy, though.
such beautiful photos!! and yay for spring!! i, unfortunately, was greeted by spring with gnats. yuck.
alisha´s last blog ..Saying “no”: easier said than done
Oh, no, Alisha! The dreaded gnats.
I feel doubly lucky now to have witnessed only the bees.
Beautiful soft blossoms against the blue sky … they remind me of my weeping cherry. I love to stand beneath it’s weeping branches too… feel hidden within its umbrella of blossoms. Great shots of blooms and bees! ;>)
Carolflowerhillfarm´s last blog ..A Perennial Spring Ritual Maple Sugaring… A Story of a Gentle Steward
Seems like you know exactly what I’m talking about, Carol. I can’t wait to see the photos of your weeping cherry, very soon I’m sure!
Oh! Look at the bees! I saw one the other day. It flew around Atlas. He tried to wipe it away with his paw.
The pink blossoms are gorgeous.
In one of our early houses growing up, there was a weeping willow tree at the corner of the front lawn. I still remember that tree. It seemed so magical.
elizabeth´s last blog ..my puppy, my heart
Aw, Atlas wiping away the bee. I swear everything that dog does is just adorable.
Our childhood memories of magic in the garden do linger a long time… and I think that’s a good thing.
Oh, I almost missed this one! What wonderful photos of the bees at work – I love that you’ve captured the movement in his little wings! The more I garden, the more I appreciate the bees
Heidi´s last blog ..Rose Diary – Week One
I’m glad you didn’t miss it, Heidi! It’s not hard to capture the bees in motion, but staying somewhat still. Glad you liked the picture, even a bit blurred.
Stunning photographs!
Diane Hoeptner´s last blog ..Landing’s Muse oil painting floral white flowers
Thank you, Diane!
‘a tree puts its arms around you’ Or you lean back and rest your head against the trunk, and feel the tree’s embrace IN your head. This has been one of your most delightful posts!
I’m so glad you liked it, Diana. That blossoming tree deserves all the credit.