where have all the honey bees gone?

can you see the bumblebee near the middle?

Where are all our honey bees? They have disappeared this year. Usually the flowers and bushes above are alive with bees in the Summer but this year not a one. I think I have seen one honey bee and three or four bumblebees. The only good thing about it is that there are no wasps about either.

I guess this will push the price of honey and fruit and veges up in the next 12 months as nothing will be getting pollinated. I read on the internet that this happens occasionally, that the bees just disappear without a trace and no-one seems to be able to explain why. It is quite uncanny to be sitting outside,
 having a coffee, beeless so to speak.

This is the calendar I won last year from
Miyako at Orchids Daily Voice

The photo does not do it justice, it is very pretty with lovely delicate colours and I have it on a shelf in my lounge. Thank you Miyako.

We have had a lot of extended family around during December and January and so it has been a rather social time. Last Friday night we went to Woodhaugh Gardens and had a barbecue and a game of cricket. Well the kids and grandkids played cricket and the four grandparents did what we do best, cheered them on. While they were here three of them celebrated birthdays and another 2 celebrate in early Feb so we hired a small hall and had a combined party for them. Lots of family and friends, lots of fun.

oh dear, we missed a name

 And guess what one of my wonderful daughters gave me for Christmas? A Pohutukawa or New Zealand Christmas Tree. They are very large trees in their natural state but when I rang the garden centre they told me I could grow it in a pot so that is what I am going to do. I hope. I don't have a lot of success with growing living things. Wish me luck, or wish the tree luck really.

Thank goodness for pots - a great solution. I really didn't know where I was going to put it as everywhere I thought of when I looked there were power  lines or it would block the sunlight or shade the neighbours...
and this way if ever we move I can take it with me :D)

Have a wonderful week, 
Diana