by Donna L. Watkins
"I want creation to penetrate you with so much admiration that wherever you go, the least plant may bring you the clear remembrance of the Creator ... One blade of grass or one speck of dust is enough to occupy your entire mind in beholding the art with which it has been made."
-- Basil the Great (329-79), Hexaemeron, Homily V, The Germination of the Earth.
-- Basil the Great (329-79), Hexaemeron, Homily V, The Germination of the Earth.
 |
| View Enlarged Image Honey Bee on Stonecrop Sedum View More Bee Photos |
I've been thinking of bees lately. There is such an amazing variety of them. It sometimes astounds me all of the beauty that God created for us like this honey bee feasting on the flowers. He made provision for all of us in one way or another. Our God is an awesome God!
The honey bee eats nectar (sugary water) and pollen (yellow to brown protein powder depending on the flower) which are made by flowers. Babies are fed tons of pollen, to provide the protein they need to grow. The abundance of flowers in the spring (and lots of pollen), make it so that most bee babies are born in the spring. The nectar collected is what the worker bee uses to make honey.
The bee arrives at a flower, and proceeds to drink as much nectar as she can hold. She then passes the nectar to another worker bee (the nectar is held on her tongue) so the water in it can evaporate. This way it is highly concentrated, and never spoils. When most of the water has evaporated, the sweet nectar becomes honey, which is then stored in the hive. When all the moisture is gone, the bee then caps the honey for long term storage.
During winter, when there aren’t many sources of food in blooming flowers, bees use this stored honey for food sparingly. One of the most amazing things a bee does is in the spring and summer, when there are plenty of flowers, bees tell each other where to find nectar and pollen. Isn't that pretty cool?
If a worker finds an apple tree for example with lots of flowers, she marks it with a pheromone (scent). Then she flies back to the hive and does the wiggle dance in the hive. This dance tells other workers what direction to fly in and how far to go depending on the moves chosen. (Information Source: catskillprovisions.com)
 |
| View Enlarged Image Male Ruby-crowned Kinglet Enjoying Suet View More Photos of Ruby-crowned Kinglets |
Finally I got a few good shots and when I uploaded them to the computer, I found it to be a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. This bird moves constantly, even when it's feeding. It's definitely a hyperactive bird.
They are only 4.5 inches long so it was small like some warblers. We've never seen them here in winter, but research shows that they do winter in Virginia. We usually had them in the Fall. This one was all over the suet feeder when it could gain access between the bluebirds and a wide variety of woodpeckers.
The red patch on the top and back of the head that gives this species its name is not easily seen unless the adult male is excited or raising it in his display to other birds. Since there's no mating for the Kinglets here in Virginia I had never seen any red patch. They mate in the coniferous forests of Canada or the Rocky Mountain states. However, I was so surprised to get a view of the patch a few days later and a not-so-bad photo of it.
 |
| Seven (7) Mourning Doves on the Pond Rocks. Can you find the 7 doves? Click here to view enlarged image. |
 |
| View Enlarged Image Mama Love Deer with Friends View More Deer Photos |
One several visits lately she was with a herd of deer (5-7) and seemed to be fitting in, but then a week later she was out back after the ground birds were fed and came around the back of the house alone. Not for long ... I think the deer smell the corn in the cool winter air. Anyway, they chased her away. It was sad ... I wanted her to have friends. She looks good though. Not thin. We've not had a harsh winter as far as temperatures go and snowfall.
We all need friends to hang with, even when we think we're just fine alone. We weren't designed to be alone. God made us for relationships. It's a sad world being all alone.
 |
| View Enlarged Image Spring Peeper Frog View Other Frog Photos |
Spring Peepers are usually found in wooded areas, grassy lowlands, and near ponds and swamps in central and eastern Canada and the United States. These tiny (mature at 1.5 inches), well-camouflaged amphibians are rarely seen, so my getting a picture of one was a very exciting day. They are nighttime creatures spending their days hiding from predators and emerging at night to feed on such delicacies as beetles, ants, flies, and spiders.
At mating time they lay their eggs in water and go back to the forest to live the rest of the year. Since we have a small frog pond (as we call it - it's 5 x 10 feet), they must be attracted to our back woods because of the proximity of the pond. They mate and lay their eggs in water and spend the rest of the year in the forest. In the winter, they hibernate under logs or behind loose bark on trees, waiting for the spring thaw and their chance to sing.
The mid-March chorus of nighttime whistles from amorous males is a sign for me that winter is over. If you've not heard Spring Peepers ... or maybe heard them and didn't know what they were, here's a YouTube closeup video of a male singing away with his dewlap huffing and puffing. What is a dewlap? It's a loose flap of skin on the neck of frogs and other vertebrates. On frogs it's part of the vocal sac and makes the calls of the male louder. These calls can be heard for miles sometimes.
 |
| View Enlarged Image Sculpture Outside of Theatre Building View Album of Helsinki, Finland |
We had an 11-day Baltic Sea Northern Europe Cruise on Holland America. It had many stops in various countries but all cities and being into forests and wilderness I didn't think there would be much to photograph.
Fortunately I like architecture, so we ventured out into every country and by the end of the trip it had been my favorite cruise of many that Nature's Sunshine gave us. View Helsinki, Finland Photos.
The only one that rises above this one is the Alaska Inland Passage Cruise where we saw so much wildlife. We visited a Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Sitka where we were able to see eagles face-to-face only a couple feet away. Amazing birds when you're that close.
 |
| Talk to Me, Jesus |
When I spend time with Jesus in my secret place, He always has awesome and encouraging things to say to me. Never condemning, drawing me to a higher place of intimacy with Him, which is exactly what the cover of the journal says on the back. Currently my secret place is an abandoned beach with a huge rock that we sit on and watch the water swirl and splash into a little cove below. Nice place for winter, eh? Before that we would stroll through a hardwood forest and it had benches here and there where I would sit on the ground at His feet and simply adore Him. I've always preferred ground to benches. God loves us so much.
Here's one of the devotionals that I particularly enjoyed. As you read, ponder the words being spoken only to you:
I love how you make things beautiful, dear one. I love how you can turn ordinary things into things of beauty. You are My heart because I love to turn ashes to beauty and mourning to joy. You do the same, My dearest one. And another thing, I love your love for color and art and nature because I love color and art and nature, too. When you thank Me for trees and sigh how magnificent is the sunrise, I sigh, too. Remember, I said, "it is good," when I created the earth for you to love and care for. But even more, when I created you and told you to be fruitful and multiply, I sighed twice and said it is VERY good. (Genesis 1:26-31; Matthew 5:13-16, 7:18)
 |
| HubcapCreatures.com |
One of the things he shared on a previous conversation is a site that has "sculptures" made out of hubcaps. The artist lives in Brighton, England and gathers hubcabs from roadways and turns them into amazing and beautiful art forms. The owl you see was one of Ben's favorites and he thought I would greatly enjoy it also. Not as in actually buying ... but enjoy looking at it. The prices are pretty steep, but it's wonderful to get to look at no charge at all.
The Arctic Wolf is another one that is quite amazing and was his favorite. The cost converted to US Dollars? $11,580! It's almost 4 feet tall. I very much enjoyed exploring the website and seeing how detailed these creations are. Interested in seeing more? I enjoyed the Buy Work and Previous Work links the best. Visit Hubcap Creatures website.
Closing Thoughts - Spring officially arrives on Friday. It's incredible to me how quickly this winter has flown by. I know it's because I changed my attitude about winter. I didn't do anything different but look for the good in each day and express thanksgiving and praise for the sun on days when it would shine, and that was most days. We didn't have very many dreary days of winter. Had 4 snowfalls all 6 inches or less. Very blessed compared to the rest of the northeast area.
 View Enlarged Image Donna at Boxerwood Nature Center View Photos of Boxerwood |
Until next time .....
May God Increase Your Blessings Daily,
Donna
P.S. Anything in here that might help somebody you know?
Here's a link to the online version of this newsletter. Click on it and on the left sidebar there will be an option to share in various ways. The top one is to email it to somebody.
If you simply want to copy and paste the link into an email, here it is: http://www.thenatureinus.com/2015/03/the-nature-in-us-newsletter-31515.html
Photo Galleries
Critters & Garden Photos
Travel - USA & International
Costa Rica
Videos
Pets
View Posts By Topic
being 60
creation-nature
gardening
going green
health
my healing journey
newsletters
pets
photos
simplify-frugal
spiritual
travel
travel-costa rica
written by Donna
Posts Since Last Newsletter
New Solutions For Weight Loss Questions
Hearing God's Voice
Lasagna Gardening Composting
The Powers of the Canine Sniffer
Sovereignty Redefined (DLW)
Plant Alternatives for Steep Banks
How Do Birds Survive Winter?
Help with Neurological Disorders & Reverse Fluoride Damage
The Nature In Us Newsletter - 3/1/15 (DLW)
Previous Posts You May Have Missed
Investigation of Herbal Supplements Results in Recalls
Using Cornmeal To Kill Weeds and Ants
The First Law of Love and Relationships
Video: Tips for Improving Kitty Behavior
7 Natural Teeth Whitening Home Remedies
The Nature In Us Newsletter - 2/14/15 (DLW)
10-Minute IQ Test for Dogs - Video
Who Do You Say I Am?
The Power of Green Tea
Smiling Rewires Your Brain
The Nature In Us Newsletter - 2/1/15 (DLW)
Living Life Abundantly (DLW)
God, Quantum Physics & The Brain
Trace Minerals are Essential to Optimal Health
5 Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System
Don't Give Up Hope (DLW)
Human and Pet Vaccines: Absolutely Necessary?
The Heart a Treasure
The Nature In Us Newsletter - 1/15/15 (DLW)
Motivational Quotes to Achieve Your Goals
Target That Struggle
Age of Antibiotics is Coming to an End
We Are Complete In Him
12 Ways to Get Rid of Gas & Bloating
Joy in Believing
God Works In The Simple Things
Blog Sponsored by The Herbs Place - Wholesale Prices Always - 35-45% Off
What's on Sale Now? * Women * Men * Children * Essential Oils * Cleansing * Weight Loss * Pets - Heartworms * Mood Support * Boomerang Air Sanitizer * Products A-ZCopyright and Reprint Information - All photos remain the property of Donna L. Watkins, but may be used with proper credit and link back to the website, TheNatureInUs.com. Articles written by Donna L. Watkins may also be reprinted with proper credit and link back to the website, TheNatureInUs.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment