Bee and Hellebore

It was the first day of the year that these two, the bee and the hellebore were seen together.

It is a cause for celebration…

…And the grabbing of the camera.
Above: Same photo as the previous one, uncropped.

The cropped and uncropped image of this particular Helleborus orientalis plant is of particular interest to both human and insect…

…For several reasons.

February 27, 2009 007 (7)
This very plant was featured in this photo, taken February 27, 2009 that was honored with an award, read the story here.

As thrilling as that was, when my friend, the delightful and talented Lisa of Greenbow Gardens and her artistic side blog,Artsy Endeavors came here to the Fairegarden last May while traveling to the 2012 Fling in Asheville with Rose and Becky, she gifted me with her rendition of the 2009 bee and hellebore shot. Tears of gratitude fell as hugs were exchanged. This watercolor is displayed with pride on a shelf and brings a smile every single day. Thank you, Lisa. Your friendship is treasured, even as are the bees and the hellebores that make the winter garden sing with joy.

Frances

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~ by fairegarden on February 8, 2013.

Posted in Photography, Seasonal Chores, wildlife

17 Responses to “Bee and Hellebore”

Beautiful photos.

Thanks, Meta.

Meta said this on February 8, 2013 at 5:10 am | Reply
I am glad you enjoy the little painting I did for you Frances. I enjoy your blog every time you post too. My Hellebores are just beginning to bloom. It hasn’t been warm enough here to encourage bees out of hibernation. It won’t be long though. Have a great weekend. Thanks for the link love too.

Dear Lisa, your little painting makes me so happy in so very many ways. Thank you for your friendship and loyal readership of the blog, too. You have been with me since the very beginning, a kind voice from the blogdom. I am so glad that we got to meet in person in Chicago and then reunite in my garden for Asheville! You too, have a wonderful weekend.
Frances

Lisa at Greenbow said this on February 8, 2013 at 8:13 am | Reply
Beautiul photos and thoughts! You must have been overcome by that gorgeous watercolor painting!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this post!

Thanks, Karen. Overcome is the word to best describe the happy surprise when Lisa revealed her gift to me. It was totally unexpected since it had been three years since she had painted it from my photo. She said that she was waiting until she came to my garden in person to give it to me. That day came last May, I will never forget it!
Frances

SmallHouseBigGarden said this on February 8, 2013 at 8:47 am | Reply
What have we here? charming bees diligently following their job descriptions….. heart stopping flowers unfurling their gifts of color, shape and texture like experienced geishas, ……skillful images by a gardening photographer /photographing gardener whose art begins with really “seeing”….. and graceful , delicate brushstrokes performing their own ballet to depict the dance of bee and fleur. Yet the most beautiful thing of all is the generous friendship between two lovely people whom nature has brought together .

How sweet are your words, Marguerite, thank you so very much! The bees visiting the hellebores is a yearly ritual here, a rite of spring to come. But nothing compares to the joy of friendship Lisa has given to me.
Frances

Marguerite said this on February 8, 2013 at 8:48 am | Reply
Congratulations on the bees, they look wonderful to my pollinator starved eyes! Fabulous white hellebores~I have one and wonder if this might have been a gift from you~Thank you! I love Lisa’s painting and would have cried along with you had I been there. It’s lovely. Oh, Garden bloggers are the bestest. xoxogail

Hi Gail, thanks. It was exciting and cheering to see those bees. It has been so cold, then warmed a bit and the bees were suddenly all over the garden on the hellebores that are also all over the garden. If ever there was a good reason to grow hellebores! I think you have been given hellebore babies. The white ones seems to open first. Garden bloggers are indeed the bestest.
xoxoxo
Frances

gail said this on February 8, 2013 at 9:12 am | Reply
Beautiful pictures! This little guy really must have been a “busy bee” by looking at all the pollen he’s collected! I love watercolor paintings of flowers and this one is exquisite! How lucky you are! Lisa is such a wonderfly gifted artist!!

Hi Christy, thanks so much. We have a kajillion hellebores here, they have seeded all over the place. The bees have lots to keep them busy, thank goodness! Lisa is a wonderful artist and a dear friend. I am proud to know her.
Frances

Christy said this on February 8, 2013 at 9:24 am | Reply
I was just thinking how fab your shot was. Lisa is some artist too. What a lovely gift.

Hi Dee, thanks so much. Lisa is a jewel!
Frances

Dee said this on February 8, 2013 at 11:24 am | Reply
Every time I read your blog it makes me race out to my own garden to see if mine possesses the same magic as yours.Your photographs accompanied by your amazing descriptions make me feel I’m right there with you and you’re talking to me only.Your blog makes my heart sing!

Your words are like milk and honey to my ears, Beth, I do so appreciate you! This blog was started to share my garden with others, through photos and text that describe what is going on here. I know that you feel like you are here with me in the garden means so much. Thank you.
Frances

beth jimenez said this on February 8, 2013 at 11:31 am | Reply
Great photos but I just adore Lisa’s artwork. Come visit here please Lisa.

Hi Layanee, thanks. I agree completely about Lisa’s talent. What a treasure she is, and the painting she so generously gave me.
Frances

Layanee said this on February 8, 2013 at 11:31 am | Reply
You know, that photo still continues to be one of my favorites from you. You can just tell that the eager little bee is just wanting to collect some of that wonderful pollen! And so early in the year, too.
Your friend did a fantastic job with the watercolor, and I love how the edges are torn too! [I do that when I work with watercolors as well...] it makes the illustration as a whole more display-worthy!
Love the simple display with glass too~ Lisa is very talented!

Hi Donna, thanks so much for the kind words. Seeing the bees at this time of year was at first shocking but now expected. When I didn’t see them as the hellebores first opening I was worried. But they just needed the flowers to open all the way it seems. Lisa’s rendition of the bee and hellebore is something I will always treasure.
Frances

Donna B. said this on February 8, 2013 at 11:44 am | Reply
Beautiful well- caught shots.

Thanks, Green Bench!

greenbenchramblings said this on February 8, 2013 at 2:17 pm | Reply
Fantastic pictures – incredibly sharp. I love the closeup that lets you see the pollen on the bee’s legs.

Thanks, Jason. I take many shots and hope that some or even just one are fairly sharp. Sometimes they are good enough.
Frances

gardeninacity said this on February 8, 2013 at 3:28 pm | Reply
what a lovely gift and such a good painting.

Hi Helen, thanks. It was a wonderful gift that I will always treasure.
xoxoxo
Frances

Helen Johnstone said this on February 8, 2013 at 5:01 pm | Reply
Bees are our friends…spoken from an old friend’s mouth. He LOVES honey.

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for visiting. Bees are indeed our friends, in so many ways beyond the delicious honey.
Frances

Elizabeth McLeod said this on February 8, 2013 at 6:06 pm | Reply
What a sweet story and a hopeful event for you each year! I look forward to when that will happen here–maybe late March or early April? It’s not too far off now! Thanks for the taste of spring1

Hi Beth, thanks for visiting. Spring comes here in fits and starts, beginning as early as January sometimes and lasting until things heat up in mid-April. The hellebores and bees are among the best of those spring bits. The hellebore blooms will last into May, such a wonderful plant.
Frances

PlantPostings said this on February 8, 2013 at 11:37 pm | Reply
Fantastic. What an honor. Loved the pics.

Thanks Lola, it truly was an honor.
Frances

Lola said this on February 9, 2013 at 6:30 pm | Reply
I’m a lover of hellebores and that painting is lovely. I was surprised to see a hellebore blooming at the end of Jan here in my Ohio garden, but before I had time to get a photo it got snow covered again. But no bees yet!!

Hi Pearl, thanks for sharing your story here. I am so glad you also have seen an early blooming hellebore. It does seem a miracle that flowers can bloom when it is so cold. It is also amazing when bees show up after temperatures have been in the 20s the day before, too.
Frances

Pearl said this on February 10, 2013 at 10:16 pm | Reply

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