The bee knows.
Yesterday in my yard, I saw pollinia on the thorax of a bumble bee. As far as I know, the only flowers around here that produce these pollen packets are orchids, and the wild orchid that is earliest to appear is the Fairy Slipper (Calypso bulbosa).
This morning I visited my favourite viewing spot (two kilometres away as the bee flies), and there they were — dozens of them. They were about three weeks earlier than I have noticed them before. (Two of this morning’s pictures, below.)
Thank you! Such beautiful photo’s! Does my heart good to see them. Takes me back to my childhood when we’d find secret patches and take a couple of sweaty stems home for the reward of a cookie. Now we wouldn’t pick any, but 60 years ago the reward of the search was worth it. Thanks Alistair.
Breathtaking. Never have I seen them in such detail. The balsamroot, too, is very early; possibly fully one month. Let’s hope the pollinated and pollinators are afoot together.
Thank you so much for those gorgeous flowers. Never have I seen the fairy slipper image so clearly.