Some of the most delightful moments in my garden are spent watching the birds, bees, and butterflies going about their daily lives. In over 40 years of gardening, I suffered bee stings only 3 times, all within a 2-week span, mainy because I did not look before dead-heading, of all things, bee balm! It seems bees are especially drawn to Annual Poppies (Papaver somniferum), which spring up with abandon in every flower bed and between the cracks in pavers. I let them bloom where they like. Here are some bees hard at work.


Pollen-laden bee on peony.










Coming in for a landing.