The early September showers have blessed the trees with bouquets. Every fruit tree in the garden is covered in tiny flowers that send away invitations to pollinators, wrapped in all sorts of perfumes. This year the star apple tree and the pomegranate tree bloomed for the very first time promising us a sweet treat.
This cold and damp morning, it was by accident that my eyes stopped at the mandarine tree. Every twig is covered with a tiny bunch of white flowers that make the whole area feel like a perfumery. The slight citrusy, sweet smell is indescribable. But more than this divine smell and the pretty flowers I was thrilled to see the tiny visitors cuddling among the white petals. Dear little bees. They have come in swarms and have the time of their lives in the mandarine tree.
The gooseberry tree has also burst into flowers. Small, light green flowers crowd the branches. Their honey-sweet smell is quite prominent in the damp and cold air. To be honest, I have never experienced the smell of gooseberry flowers. As children, we never missed the rusty orange berries but it takes vigilance to experience the scene before the berries. The whole expanse of the flowered gooseberry tree is dotted with bees.
These little bees are the ones who sustain life on earth. They are the ones who pollinate the trees so that we have fruit and crops and the trees have a means of continuing their generations. They are the ones who give us honey for food and medicine nourishing and healing. Their wax goes into medicinal balms and ointments healing wounds and soothing chapped skin. And their whole existence keeps the world alive.
I felt deep gratitude toward these little insects that help and sustain life on earth better than many. The flowers and bees made my day. I will be forever thankful for this wonderful nature and I will make to do my part to protect it.