#frostpocket

Study Opp.  Here is an appropriately named bee.  Andrena ziziae.  It is a specialist on...Zizia (Golden Alexanders or its 2 sisters (presumably)).  Now Zizia is widely planted, but is Andrena ziziae benefiting?  Does it leave its wildish landscapes to move into the mulch puddles of its pollen plant that now dot suburbia?   [Side bar.  Like in the old days where marks and signs were used to identify safe houses for repressed groups who were on the lam, the presence of a Zizia planting in your yard identifies you (at least to me) as a gentle progressive and makes me smile]  So, back to the original point.  It would be interesting to check out all these plantings to see if any of them are fraternizing with this bee.  Just so you know, this is a small bee, about 1/2 the size of the honey bee.  Wimpy sting too, can't even penetrate a baby's skin.  This bee was collected by Ai Wen in Iowa and the photo taken by Cole Cheng.  

Ah, one of the local Maryland Vacciniums.  Vase shaped with a pistil packed with pollen that must be shaken out of a pore (that a lot of alliteration waiting to be exploited, but am feeling kind today, so won't).  Anyway there are several Vacc bee specialists out there, many with long heads to better reach into these flowers to get there nectar reward (Andrena bradleyi and Colletes validus are good examples).  These species also know how to unhinge their wings to vibrate out the pollen (side bar:  honey bees do not know how to do this and thus are not the best at pollinating blueberries unless you put in 1 billion of them.).  Not sure of species here, but Helen Lowe Metzman took the picture.    

Looking south west down on the track known as the Thief's Road where it runs alongside the Woll Golf Course. #frostpocket #ashkirk #thewoll #thewollgolfcourse #scottishborders #lovescottishborders #thiefsroadashkirk #bordersabbeysway #winterafternoon (at New Woll Estate)

Don't you just love those fluky late frosts? Potatoes got fried. At least now the weeds have a fighting chance. #amyofarms #betterlucknextyear #frost #suburbanfarm #frostpocket #valleyfarming #potatoes