Bumble Bee on Redbud

photograph of a bumble bee pollenating a redbud tree

Over the weekend I sat on my roof to get a better view of the bumble bees pollenating our redbud tree.  These trees never cease to amaze me.  They are in full bloom in Richmond and quite beautiful right now.  The bees will be all over them for the next few weeks.  Some of the birds will even eat the flowers.  Then, late in the summer they will start to produce seed pods and become nature’s perfect bird feeder.  Of course the trees benefit immensely from feeding the birds.  We have one full sized tree in our yard and we must get a hundred saplings sprout up every year.

American Robin 2

photograph of an American Robin

This American Robin was searching for breakfast in my backyard when I took this photograph.  My mother always used to tell me robins were the first sign of spring.  This photo was taken in early February.  Granted I live 100 miles south of my childhood home but I am still always surprised when I see robins in the winter months.