A Taste For Cilantro

Day 292: Of all the things they have to choose from in my garden, the Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) and several species of tiny non-aggressive wasps and flies seem to be particularly attracted to the cilantro (coriander). On the other hand, the Bumblebees are drawn to Phacelia, the only plant to grow from a mixed packet of "bee flower" seeds I was given by a friend. I had let one batch of cilantro bolt accidentally, but when I realized it was drawing pollinators, I allowed the rest of it to run its course. As a bonus, it looks like I'm going to have lots of coriander seeds, both for cooking and for saving over to plant again next year.

Camouflage

 
Day 290: If this guy had ordered a custom paint job from the military, they couldn't have done a better job of camouflage! When I stopped to photograph the sunflowers at the Mountain Community Garden in Eatonville, I didn't notice the bees until I zoomed in and tightened the focus. Then I realized they were hard at work on several flowers, some rather a bit too close at hand for someone who's highly allergic to their stings.

The Mountain Community Garden leases raised beds for vegetables and provides a "commons" for growing taller plants. The Garden also hosts an area dedicated to cultivation of produce specifically destined for the Eatonville Food Bank. Last year, the Garden donated over 200 pounds of organically-grown vegetables, benefiting people who might otherwise not have been able to afford a healthful diet.