If ever I were to begin to pin down my beliefs, then I might say they relate to earth, the planet, the universe, the creative forces that we humans scarcely understand, although that doesn’t stop us from telling ourselves plenty of stories about them. Indeed, throughout our short existence on the planet, it seems we have always told such tales, and it’s probably worth considering how many of them have proved false and fanciful.
And so when it comes to taking photographs, these are the kinds of thoughts that may be drifting through my mind. I mean, really – existentially – how do you explain this peacock butterfly – its form, colours and intricacies of behaviour? Of course for taxonomic purposes, entomologists may have a great deal to say on all these aspects, but in the natural scheme of things this organism simply IS, albeit occupying its own very particular evolutionary time and space.
Through my human eyes, then, I see it as a marvel, because I also judge it to be beautiful and so worthy of my full attention. It is also very pleasing, exhilarating even, to see it, take its photo and then to share it. So in this sense it is also a celebration. At the same time I note that I am, as most people would be, uneager to similarly celebrate housefly larvae, dust mites, garden slugs or sooty mould; yet they all have their place in the biosphere. All of which is to say we humans are very selective when it comes to the things we ‘see’ and don’t ‘see’. I also think it’s worth thinking about this proclivity when it comes to our earth stories.
For now though, more celebratory earth snaps from today’s August garden. It’s bee and bug heaven out there…
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And yesterday I discovered a newcomer to the garden. This is one of a host of tiny bees presently foraging on the tansy flowers over the fence in the guerrilla garden. They are less than a half inch/centimetre long with banded abdomens of yellow or bluey-grey tones. I think they are a Colletes species/plasterer bees and therefore fairly recent arrivals in the UK.
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Lens-Artists: What’s your photographic groove? Anne at Slow Shutter Speed wants to know. Please pop over to her blog.
Tish Farrell 
It’s a good groove to have! Love the new bees. And a reminder to myself that I need to buy some tansy for my herb garden!
I’m not sure where mine came from. I have to say it’s grown terribly jungly in the guerrilla garden – taller than me!
Every thing in Nature depends on every thing .
It does, Beverly.
Gorgeous! Is that a peacock butterfly? The bees are brilliant! In the mid-Atlantic region of the US we have a butterfly called a buckeye. It looks very similar.
Yes. It’s a peacock butterfly.
Lovely bees, bugs and butterflies. You’ve got some great shots here.
Thanks, Margaret. The result of much faffing about in the garden 🙂
I really love that pink flower and bee shot. You’re right. I’m far too selective 🤭💗
Ha! A woman who knows her own mind though 🙂
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👏👏👏📷🤗🦋🐝🌹
I think it was Thoreau who said a weed is a flower that’s yet to be appreciated. The butterfly’s beauty is explainable scientifically (in ways that are themselves beautiful) yet it’s essence remains ineffable – at least to us, who are beautiful and ineffable in our own ways.
Thanks for those thoughtful thoughts, Stephen.
Tish, what a wonderful photo groove and amazing images! Thanks for participating.
Many thanks for the challenge, Anne.
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I really enjoyed that view of an English August
I love your photography groove! That peacock butterfly is beautiful. You’re right, it’s much harder to see beauty in some species than others, but there IS beauty in the incredible patterns of interdependency we see in nature.
‘beauty in the incredible patterns of interdependency we see in nature.’ Well put, Sarah.
I’m with you on the belief thing … science tries to explain so much, buy we truly know so little. 😀 … hooray for bee heaven. 😀
Hooray for bee heaven, indeed, Widders. And thanks for like-minded thoughts.
As yes…earth. I’m with you. I love that you find value in “giving what is going on” your full attention. I can picture you squatting down watching the new bees. They are quite fun, aren’t they? My grandkids were terrified of bees, but when I took a moment to show how they were doing work on my lemon and lime trees, they were intrigued, and look for them now. Months later, to pick the fruit was extra. Beautiful photos. Donna
That’s a very lovely story about your grandkids, Donna. Thank you.
Beautiful photos! Love all of them. Great to see bees out there!
Thanks, Dawn. I agree – more bees the merrier. We have clouds of them in the lavender at the moment.
Stunning series, Tish! I love that I can see the little furry legs of your bees!
You made me smile, Ju-Lyn. Happy to provide little furry bee legs 🙂
Earth marvels…of course you put it exactly right. That’s where I am as well. And we all should be. If/when everything is lost we are unable to recreate it. We have to love and take care of our planet. Every day, every minute, every second. Your words and photography are celebrating what we have been given.
Love the peacock standing out in its beauty on the flower, love the new bees – I don’t think we have them up here though. Thank you for a lovely post.
Thank you for all those lovely thoughts, A-C. Like minds, methinks.
Magnificent, Tish! I love that last photo, with flowers cascading on the old fence against a blue sky.
Many thanks for that uplifiting comment, Jennie.
My pleasure!
Your macro-photography is absolutely glorious, thank you for sharing the bees and butterflies.
Many thanks.
You are welcome.
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