What's The Buzz?© Bob Ewing
Apr 16, 1999
The past week has been beautiful, sunshine, day after day after day. All my seed orders have arrived. The garden plans are drawn and next week I'll start the first seeds, the Brandywine tomatoes, indoors. This year, I am adding a trellis to the balcony and will grow peas and scarlet runner beans there. The beans' main purpose is to attract hummingbirds. I spend much time on the balcony watching the Lake. Hummer visit sometimes and it is quite a thrill to be seated within three feet of these tiny flying jewels. Hummers are fairly aggressive for their size and usually give me a quick look that says "Hey what are you doing in my garden?" before helping themselves to the nectar.
Hummers aren't the only visitors. Bees frequent the flowers that make up the balcony cut flower garden. There is only enough room for a couple of chairs and a small table so when sitting out there you are surrounded by plants and their companions. Some people are not comfortable being this close to bees and for others it may be dangerous. However, no one in the family or our close circle of friends is allergic to bee stings. This doesn't mean that a few people don't become nervous when the gardens buzzing. I love the sound. The music of life's endless circle and bees, at least honey bees, make one of my favourite foods. I usually select a few plants which encourage bees to visit. This year I am adding pleurisy root (asclepias tuberosa) or butterfly weed, because it is the main food of the monarch butterfly and bees seem to enjoy it as well. We don't see monarchs often here, but should one visit, I want to have lunch ready. The bees' buzz means that life is just humming along. All is as it should be.
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The copyright of the article What's The Buzz? in From Field To Table is owned by Bob Ewing. Permission to republish What's The Buzz? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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