bees -- alive and kicking

[Frank Fremerey]

what plant?

[Gary]

Bjørn. IIRC the white blooms are Brambleberry (Brombeere).

Gary. Fascination came from a meadow with scattered fruit trees, mostly old apple varieties and fruit trees. They make honey and I design the labels for the honey: http://fotokontext.de/Wir_gestalten_Etiketten_fuer_Ihre_Produkte_Wein_Honig_Marmelade_wunderschoen_erfolgreich_preiswert.html

Currently I got the feeling that I found my life's topic and it is "Biodiversity and Global Responsibility". The book I am just writing covers that topic and because of the fascination of that topic I am a regular to botanical gardens (as I am to Pipe Organs and Churches in General).

I still have another bee set to be developed from the botanical garden in Bonn. Note that I sometimes post shots of flower flies who are no bees and no wasps but sometimes you need and expert to tell these apart, because they mimic the other species.

Photographically the flower varieties in a botanical garden are much more interesting than the ones I found in the defunct gravel pit, that was more like a desert with very few animals and very few different kinds of plants. Alas scientifically the "half desert" was much more rewarding because the "Hosenbienen" dig their caves with many rooms and have quite an interesting look.

I still have many precious shots to be developed from that shooting too.

I love those labels!

"Currently I got the feeling that I found my life's topic and it is "Biodiversity and Global Responsibility". The book I am just writing covers that topic and because of the fascination of that topic I am a regular to botanical gardens (as I am to Pipe Organs and Churches in General). "

Very interesting. Have you written any previous books/articles/studies? (I used to be a City of Los Angeles Commissioner overseeing the Environmental Affairs Department. My work as an environmental commissioner may intersect and overlap into much of your writings concerning Biodiversity and Global Responsibility. But that was long ago and I haven't kept up with the latest concepts, legislations and implementations.)

[Gary]

I was just wondering if Europe is also experiencing pollinator decline?

Unfortunatly yes.

Neonicotinoid pesticide are not allowed in few contry in Europe (Italy, France

For the moment.

Chemical groups are lobbying and are striving to convince politics to allow their use throughout Europe.

Our Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has failed to act on lawsuits against Neonicotinoids saying the evidence is inconclusive and overstated.

[Frank Fremerey]

Monsanto says it is some parasitical moth that  causes the trouble. My honeyman says it is probably both.

The complexity of these systems is rather difficult to model and understand. BT corn was thought to interfer with
some useful and rare insects but in the end thorough investigation showed that this was not the case.

I am pro Biodiversity and it has shown that Biodiversity can be utilized for highly productive agriculture.

Biodivers Agriculture does not need fertilizers and killer chemicals because the plant families grown together are chosen to shield off or contain insects and plants destructive to intended harvest.

Masanobu Fukuoka pioneered that field in the 1970 but we have come a long way from there.

[Gary]

I am aware that Native Americans planted their three main agricultural crops together in what is called "companion planting": winter squash, corn and climbing beans.

Native Americans call them the Three Sisters and they were all planted in the same soil mound. I am sure other cultures developed biodiverse agriculture methodologies as well.

[Frank Fremerey]

I feel Agrodiverse Productivity is the future of feeding 10 Billion mouths

[rosko]

what plant?

It looks like Thyme or something from the Lamiacea family. (wild thyme, marjoram).

Regarding the scale given by the bee, I would say thyme, and the picture is dated from june, when thyme blossoms.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

Agree it could be from the Lamiaceae, but Thymus isn't the most likely candidate as this genus has spike-like inflorescences, pink to purple flowers, and styles are exserted (sticking far out in more common language). Thyme stems tend to carry stiff hairs on one or more sides as well.

[Erik Lund]

Sorry to raise it here as well but on my screen these bees look mostly unsharp, blured and for some noisy...

[Frank Fremerey]

It is a long way to perfection. I never stop learning.