THE buff-tailed bumble bee
(Bumbus terrestris)
starts the morning
blithely bouncing
from broom to buddleia
as if on a trampoline.
But his forage
among the flowers
is more enterprising
than you think.
After a scramble
among the brambles
(Rubus fructicosus)
to clear his tubes
he tumbles into the umbels
of the Cow Parsley
(Angelica archangelica)
to settle his digestion.
Then he takes
a discreet cruise
round a dormitory
of scarlet poppies
(Papaver somniferum)
for his customary 'fix'.
Then a quick hop into the hops
(one for the road)
and over to the hissop
for a blessing.
Finally he fumbles around
in the thimbles of the foxglove
(Digitalis purpurea)
to give him heart for the return flight
to hive, home and honeycomb.
Submitted by Frank S Rickards
Oswaldkirk
Updated: 10:54 Wednesday, September 04, 2002
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article