Mika Geiger Photography

Tucked inside this wine cup bloom, this ligated furrow bee may look like she’s sleeping, but she’s working hard. She’s fast—spinning around collecting pollen, in and out of the bloom in just a few seconds before heading to the next.

As I watch bees, I try to notice their patterns—how they fly, how long they stay at each bloom - she was a 3 second bee😅. It helps me anticipate where they’ll be next and stay with them a little longer. There’s always a lot of luck involved though.

I’m so grateful that our neighbors planted this small strip of wildflowers between their fence and the sidewalk. It’s a lively little mix that draws in all kinds of insect visitors, and it’s become one of my favorite places to take a break from my computer and get lost for a while in whatever’s unfolding there.

I first noticed the Mexican plum trees at Zilker Botanical Garden by their scent. The fragrance carries surprisingly far, and when I followed it I found the trees full of happy pollinators.

While I was watching the activity around the flowers, this White-lined Sphinx Moth began hovering above the blooms, reaching in with her long proboscis for nectar. In flight, sphinx moths are remarkably agile, able to hover in place and dart quickly from flower to flower — which is why they’re often called “hummingbird moths.”

When I returned the following week with a longer lens, hoping to photograph more insects from a distance, the Mexican plum blossoms were already finished. Their blooming window had already come and gone.

This Long-tailed Skipper drifted through the blossoms of a Mexican plum tree, the flowers behind it looking almost like little clouds.

The long tails on their hindwings aren’t just decorative. They may help the butterfly survive an attack. The tail often draws a predator’s strike away from the butterfly’s body, and it can tear without seriously harming it. Better to lose part of a wing than the head.

more about those “mittens” on that male leafcutter bee in my last post.

Those fuzzy front legs have a very specific purpose.During mating, males place them gently over the female’s eyes. They’re believed to help her determine he’s the right species — likely through a mix of touch, light, and even scent.

Male leafcutter bees don’t actively gather pollen or build nests, but their job is no small one. Their persistence is what ensures the next generation.

Very little in nature is accidental.

The Magic of Rain

Maybe butterflies decorate for the holidays with raindrops.

A Ceraunus Blue resting as she warmed up and dried off after the rain, with a single drop balanced on the tip of her proboscis.

Hope you discover a little of nature’s magic during your holiday