Summer Days 2010
At long, long, last my turtle plants or Chelona glabra have opened and their abundance is revealed. They are a late summer bloomer, and they take their time to bud and bloom. Mine are pink, they come also in white or light green. Of all the attractions for bees in my garden, ER, sorry, yard, the Chelona glabra turtle plants are the most sought after by my little buzzing buddies.
After mowing the lawn, (now THERE'S exercise for you...) I went and stood by the turtle plants and watched the bees hum, buzz and softly drone around the flowers. Chelona glabra blooms are elongated but the mouth part curves in, just like a turtle's beak. The bees have trouble getting in sometimes and I watched a couple struggle through the doorway. (I noted that a couple of these obese buzzers could lose 30 pounds) Some bees are laden with honey, the leg sacs bulging with sweet treasure for the hive or nest. I was reminded of the old saw about the monkey that put his hand through the cage to grab some peanuts, but couldn't get his hand back -- unless he let go of the peanuts!
One particular bee seemed to be having a difficult time trying to get into the beak of the turtle head. I decided it was time for a little help for the honey hunter. I have opened doors for lots of people, old and feeble, young and pretty -- both with packages, is my excuse. I have even let dogs and cats through doors, but this would be my first for a bee. I reached over for one that was attempting to push through the flower's mouth and I reached down and squeezed the body of the flower, similar to what one does with a snapdragon. The mouth popped open a little wider and the bee slid in. I don't understand bee talk, but I swore I heard other bees saying, "Me next, over here, squeeze this one." I don't like people -- or bees -- taking advantage of my good nature, so I said, in what I though was my best bee talk, "Buzz off, you're on your own buddy." I did, however, think I saw a smile on the face of the bee I helped. "You're welcome," I buzzed back.
© Copyright Roy H. Barnacle 2011
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