To The Rescue …
Clinging to the rescue straw.
Catching the breeze on the edge of a leaf.
Jeez, that was close mate. You ok?
Don’t fall off now, that wind is strong.
No worries, just catching it to dry the wings.
Ahh, it’s nice here in the warm sun.
Thanks for the help mate.
The rain came and with it the ready bees in the hotel under the veranda burst out into the world of sense, colour, scent, form, sound and the touch of another.
They wait for a few days after enough rain so there would be conditions conducive to survival, moisture and food in the form of flowers. And of course resin to build and seal their nests with – in the case of the Orange Tail Resin Bees.
It had been a while since there were many of these bees flying around the garden, it being so hot and dry I suspect as cause, and then I started seeing them. One here and there, and then I went looking around the hotels and started finding them floating in the watering cans – I leave them sitting for the chlorine to evaporate.
Can’t have that, so started a rescue mission and retrieved five or six from a watery end over a couple days, two pairs – my early morning sleeplessness as advantage. Set out some water they can land on and take off from, and no more bees in the cans, so far. This is during the last week, after I got out of hospital and was supposed to be doing nothing at all.
Hospital was a rescue of a different kind, really. A Dr Charles Nankivell (surgeon @ Redlands Hosp) headed a team that I like to refer to as stellar. In fact my experience of the process from reception to discharge was that. Only the good shone for me, the other didn’t make it in, though it did knock.
In ‘a way’ the surgical team get the easy end, after introductions the patient is usually drugged to numbness to one degree or another, though I suspect they have their difficult ones, stressed out at the prospect of being under the knife is probably not uncommon.
The nurses that manage the aftermath are exceptional creatures too, each in their own way demonstrating quiet efficiency while doing the job of a diplomat, keeping everyone in the game, regardless of disposition.
It was a powerful experience, surrender of my life into the hands of strangers, and the care and kind professionalism with which I was handled …
… as if I were a baby loved.
© Mark Berkery ……. Click those pictures for a closer look
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Nature's Place 
The close up pictures of the bees are super cool!
Thanks Ruby …
Seems like you’re immersed in a community of circulating caring, Mark . . . you, the bees, the doctors, the nurses . . . if we could all just let that caring flow . . .
There’s a lot of ‘stuff’ to get rid of, in any ordinary life, before love can be … enough.
So true, Mark.
Absolutely lovely…as always! Good to drop in and see your amazing work.
Thanks Suzy … Your site is gone?
I ran out of steam and dropped the premium site…it’s there, but no link now. I do have a new one Fabricanter where I post all my “creations”
Yes, it takes a bit of steam now and again and it’s good to have something to do that we enjoy.
“Spread your bread upon the waters . . . . .” You did, and it did:) Good wishes for a full and speedy recovery. I find that the colour of water container has a huge effect on the insects which end up in trouble. If i put out a yellow, red or blue bucket for the horse, I am rescuing insects all day long. But if it is a black bucket – nary a one.
Thanks S … I’ve been finding them in white watering cans and then put water in black trays for them – no more in the cans. I have heard before the colour affects them so will see about that.
I have no experience of white, interesting. It would be fascinating to see what colours are the most attractive, but I suppose that will vary with species.
I suspect it comes down to what colour the creature usually is attracted to and how needy it is of water. It had been very dry for a while, then it rained and all the bees hatched, and then it got dry again. When it’s dry here it is scorching.
Wonderful bee pics. Loved them! Glad you seem to be ok and happy you had a good experience in hospital.
Bee Blessings to you,
Mary
Thanks Mary. I am always ok, it’s the other shadowy fellow has the problems. :-)
I’m glad you’re doing ok! Hopefully all is well with you. These are beautiful bees…
Thanks Firefly – who lights the night. All is well. They are beauties … :-)
The pair were clinging to each other in the cold water, and then they interacted for a while on the leaf in the sun before flying off, I was lucky to find them.
I’m glad to hear it :)
:-)
Great photos and story. My best wishes for a speedy full recovery. I had an ambulance ride to the ER and an overnight for observation about 9 months ago. Fully recovered. Nothing life threatening but initially very scary. Your last paragraph is a perfect description of what I experienced also.
Thanks David. I was lucky, I had an appointment, albeit unexpected. They rang me on Friday afternoon for a operation on Monday morning. The remarkable thing was I didn’t feel concerned as might be expected going ‘under the knife’. There was some disruption in my psyche but it was as the sun or moon looks down on the clouds, I was unmoved by it. Re the last para/line, when it came for me to leave the ward it actually crossed my mind I would miss this place – no stranger thing, to me. :-)
Good to know your garden is providing good post-operative care. Thank you for adding the name of your bees as they are very similar to some of their French Osmia cousins that I have in my garden. I have a similar problem with my watering can but with frogs that accidentally jump in and cannot escape. Look after yourself! Amelia
The garden has been the place of peace down through the ages. No tree of the knowledge of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ here, it’s all good.
If I leave a bucket of water standing I usually leave a stick in it for anything to climb out on. I’d have thought frogs wouldn’t have a problem though, being amphibious and if they can climb in they can climb out. Then there’s every permutation, possibility.
Thanks Amelia, I do. And there is always a helper in some form.
I think our frogs fall in from planters or off the wall and the sides of the plastic watering cans are too smooth inside even for their sticky feet. I try to place them carefully :)
Just give them something to climb out on, like a stick, would that work?
I was already thinking about something like that. Gradually there are more around as they like to catch the sun on our walls so I am going to put a flat piece of wood in the can and it can just stay there permanently.
Sounds like it will work.
We all need rescuing now and again. Glad the hospital team were there for you and you were there for the bees. They have impressive mandibles.
We do, they do … :-)
Thanks Emily.
Have a good recovery! Doctors and nurses have always gone above and beyond in my experience. A good rescue on your part too along with the ever stunning photos to accompany.
You are probably right about the docs and nurses but it has to be seen to be appreciated. I have a new respect for them now, something changed in me and it is good.
Making full use of recovery resources available, includes the bee rescue straw.
Thanks Kathy.
The docs and nurses caring for you; you caring for the bees. A lovely inter-species pay-it-forward. Beautiful images as always, Mark, and I remain a grateful admirer of the tenderness and concern with which you approach your subjects. I hope you mend fully and quickly!
Ha, ha … It would be a different world if everybody just cared enough.
Thanks Cate. The mend is already looking good.