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| Honey Bee watercolor 14 x 10 |
Summer just cannot be summer without bees. While no bee expert, I have my own notions about a few kinds of bees: giant bumble bees who drunkenly float through the air a bit out of control; the borer bees who make holes in my fence; the pesky yellow jackets who aggressively invade picnics and barbeques late summer. And then there are the honey bees whose yummy product we purchase to cover our biscuits and sweeten our world. Their complex communities have been the subject of many articles and studies of late along with cut-open view of their hives and bamboo shelters for rent in gardens. Oh yeah, our sons were each wounded each summer by a mistep in our clover-covered yard. But the bees were forgiven. They did not mean to sting. After all, they were being stepped on! A few years back, we noticed fewer and fewer bees and an absence of clover in the yard. I continued to scout out articles offering suggestions as to their demise which included: viruses and bacteria; cellphone interference in the air mixing directional signals; the fickle changes of nature; and, of course, yard pesticides that offer "weed free" lawns at the expense of well water, insects and animals. Eventually I gave up the search. Well....I am so pleased this year. To counterbalance the abominable weather changes affecting our population has been the return of clover and honey bees to our yard. They are......welcome guests. This painting offers a blown-up view of the honey bee. Its increased size offers more intimacy as well as larger shapes for creative color mingling. I am pleased....with the painting....and with their return.
