Imogen's photos

19th Century bee hive boxes, Weimar, Germany. I like the wisdom of the quotes engraved on the boxes.

Bee hive boxes from the 19th Century decorated with Folk Art and quotes about the innate beauty of Nature. These boxes were used out in the field so the bees could pollinate crops. When not in use, the box hives were stored under canopy to protect the bees from inclement weather.

Honey Bee collecting nectar and pollen from a flower in the Weimar bee museum garden.

At the Weimar Bee museum, Germany, there are various beehives devised by beekeepers since ancient times. This one is a recreation of the earliest type using a hollow tree log. In Nature bees usually create their hives in hollows in trees. Humans would have observed this and It didn't take much imagination to use tree stumps in the same way to keep bees. Easier than climbing a tree to get honey! The inset picture in the note shows the small entrance shaped out of a tree branch - this is to prevent predators getting at the bees or the honey. (The acrylic lid on the entrance is modern - no they didn't have acrylic plastic in ancient times!)

Weimar Bee Museum, Germany. Flower field for foraging by the colony of bees kept on site. Bee hives can be seen at the bottom of the garden, under canopy cover.

Weimar Bee Museum, Germany.

Bee Museum, Weimar, Germany. The oldest German museum of Bees, part of the town museum of Weimar. The Bee Museum has a permanent exhibition on the biology and cultural history of Bees and beekeeping. There is a wildflower garden where the bees can forage for nectar and pollen. On display inside and outdoors is a collection of beehives dating from the Middle Ages to late 19th Century, some of which are occupied by Bee colonies.

Native Australian Bee, Amegilla sp., or Blue Banded Bee flying to a Lavender in search of nectar. Its mouthparts are already dropped down in anticipation of finding nectar. The second picture in the insert clearly shows the blue bands on the Bee's body, hence the common name Blue Banded Bee. These native bees live individually in burrows in the ground, or between mortar in brick walls, not in hive communities. They lay eggs and hoard food stocks for the hatchlings emerging in the following Spring. Sensitive to temperature, the Amegilla bee only becomes active around end of October (mid-Spring) and are the first to disappear when it turns cold in Autumn. On cloudy cool days they do not fly or work, but stay at home in their burrow.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas and holiday season. Picture taken in Erfurt, Germany on our recent trip. It was summer when this was taken but I thought it suited the Christmas spirit.

Successful pollination by most probably the horde of Bees seen on this poppy patch. There is a beauty to poppy seedpods I find intriguing.

Poppies are my second favourite flower after Tulips. It is Spring in Australia so these poppies are flowering now and enjoyed by the bees.

Retreating clouds at Sunrise gives the impression of a smoky mountain. I hope Ipernity has a new dawn under IMA leadership. Taken at Schoenau am Koenigssee.

Native Amegilla Bee species observed in South Africa. This and other bees, mostly bumblebees, foraged until sunset. Usually Amegilla bees retire as the afternoon cools but I guess the warm African weather allows an extended forage time. This beauty on a dusky blue salvia is grabbing one last bit of nectar before night-night.

My favourite cranesbill geranium with the most refined looking flower.

Australian native bird, Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen. It is not related to the European Magpie. Magpies are one of the most intelligent bird species. They use their foot to hold food while they peck at it. A beak as sharp as a needle with which it digs up worms in the soil or rip open fruit. Magpies live and breeds in pairs within a larger flock. I encourage them into my garden with titbits of food as they dig up the white lawn eating grubs.

Pineapple Lily or Eucomis hybrid, native of South Africa. This variety has wonderful purple sword-like foliage for 11 months of the year. It flowers in Spring for two months and then dies down for a month of rest before new foliage appears until the next year. A trouble free bulb grown in a pot as here or out in the garden.

Australian Eastern Water Dragon, young male. How do I know its a male? During mating season the males display red chests, as seen here. The adult Dragon reaches 85cm length. This one is about 40cm. They look fierce but are in fact friendly and curious creatures. This juvenile male has climbed up to my kitchen window ledge to peer at me while I work in the kitchen. Occasionally I give him a bit of food if I think he is hungry. Otherwise these Dragons catch all the cockroaches and pesky insects in the garden. My own personal pest controller.

Wild Turkey also called Australian Bush Turkey, young chic. They are plentiful even in Suburban gardens in Sydney. This young chic greeted me at my front door one morning. I provided it with some clean drinking water and a titbit of food. It spent the next two weeks in my garden eating up all the slugs and snails which were plentiful in Spring due to the rains. It slept on the branch of a shrub each night. The mother turkey only cares for the young chicks for a couple of weeks and then they have to fend for themselves - a harsh life! The adult turkeys can be a nuisance as they scratch up one's flower beds and scatter soil and mulch everywhere.