Two years ago I transplanted my young Meyer Lemon Tree into a larger container and placed in my backyard. That first Spring outdoors I had about 40 blooms, but no fruit.

Last year the tree had near 100 blooms, but I noticed there was a lack of honey bees around to pollinate. So being the ingenious person I am...ahemmm...I took feathers left by my wild birds, and  took to pollinating the blooms myself. A tedious chore, but worth the effort and time.

Aha! I had four lemons for the year! And they were really good.

Now...to the fact of disappearing honey bees: I've read much on this subject, and seen documentaries, and news reports; then realized there have been very FEW honey bees around my area.

Think about it...what would we (you, me, EVERYONE) do if ALL honey bees disappeared from our Earth? I don't even want to think long about that occurance!

But, GREAT NEWS, and what I refer to as a Phenomenal Experience: I'm seeing honey bees coming to my back yard...sipping water from my Bird Bath!

Lots of honey bees; from a group of 5 to as many as fifty
at a time. I feel such an elation each day (each semi-warm day, that is) when they come to visit! Glorious honey bees they be!

And each morning I make sure to clean out the bird-bath with my water hose, and supply fresh water for them.

This morning as I was completing the chore, bees began swarming...well, almost swarming...about thirty of them. As I continued filling the bird bath, two of the bees landed on my hand; then a third. What a tickling feeling they made against my skin. No, they didn't sting me as they knew I meant them no harm, and I don't fear them. I believe animals and insects interpret our fears - can detect a fear- or evil-aroma that humans emit.

I try to follow their air-way to wherever they are going, but have been unsuccessful, so far. Wherever they go, they return for about 5-6 hours each day, getting their supply of fresh water, which I will continue to supply.

And when Spring comes to full bloom, as will my Lemon Tree, I pray the honey bees will be here to enjoy the sweet nectar from the blooms. Oh, Meyer Lemons have a nice sweetness to them, unlike other lemons!

Maybe you could put out fresh water and see if it brings the honey bee to you! Quite a phenomenal experience...

'til later,

Micke