tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:06:18 +0000snow flakenative wild flowersblackberriesfrogdogwoodhoop housespepperssnow dropSandhilloutsidepennantsPoppyHenry's Elfinradishlady bugfleabanecamelliashosesparrowsbenchesporchfalse nettlecolumbineOcconeecheefoxtailArugulaLittle BannerprimrosepaperbushflickerMonsantoSwallowtailhalloweenwood stovelettucesun yard artBaccharissunflowersSatyrberriesSeaside DragonletmolehoneysucklemariposacatsBamboo grassodonatesmantispansiesrainpuffbirdicePurple FinchlupinemeadowhawkrobberfliesSpring Azurearandiipeachescosmoscereustrout lilytire planters.Citrine Forktailstained glassdamselfliesshrubscucumbersdog cookiesnuthatchesplantingGMOsorchidstrogonappalachian brownpinksteryard arthostaswildflowersSkimmerObamavarroa treatmentAcanalonia conicazucchiniplantMay AppleLittle Glassywingsunflowerold decksnapdragonPainted Buckeyepawpawweedsgivingplantsmorning gloryphloxSwamp DarnerlatticeAmerican ToadpondbanksPapilio polyxenesorganicMonarchsulphurElfin SkimmerlawnbloodrootmilkweedSpringtime DarnerMegCheckered SkipperfametreefrogSleepy Orangeearly springediblehawkpossumbee vacuumtuxedoNorthern pearly-eyebird bathcatusEastern Ringtaildamselflyflycatcherbottle wallviolasartwaterliliesspriteoccupygourdsbelizecornAmerican LadycicadaGreen DarnerflamingoRubyspotSely's Sundragoncrocuslive oakcarrotsairlie gardensmulchpeeperAdirondackice plantUmber Shadowdragonkittiesspring bulbsde-icerrootsspring ephemeralMonarch migrationrareGrumpywoodpeckersMallardsquashRattlebushvegetablesjewelwingbutterfly macroflowersturtlesJonquillafrostseedlingsdragonflybleeding heartlawn mowerBrown Elfinspreadwingcatkinsirisapple blossumsnakepeasdaffodillandfill rescuevenus flytrapbluetpomegranateAzure BluetPlanthopperday lilyEastern Tiger SwallowtailemperorsringletfrozentreesCalifornia Tortoiseshelltulipsskippermintpotatoesasterssnaketailcrashharbingergreensrapebottle treeorange tabbyelfinwildflowerlambsquartercheckerspotsanddragonsWhite Milkweedsapbutterfly. flowersinensiscold framesMeadow BeautySkinkbeekeepingmustardplumcyclamenHenrymidistreakYellow Flaginsectbirdsbleeding heartsTradescantiakittensDandelionfaslcateazaleatickseed sunflowercaterpillarsSpiketailorangetiphelleboressproutsspiderFalcate Orangetipscreenedfunny videokitegingerbutterflies. hairstreakconcrete counter topstablecopperheadgoatsplotchairrain barrelssconespuppets. Paperhandmistletoefava beansazureSwift SetwingStream CruiserjunipherEarth Daysasanquafolk artbananaLorquin's AdmiralmuscariEastern Pine ElfinpersimmondaffodilssparkleberrychickensaddlebackDutchman's BreechesEat More KalePennantwaterlilyhollyhockpinkbullmaple flowersdaphneBlue dasherwood sorreltomatoesDancertrash pick up. clematisSneezeweedspiderwortmetalmarkIce SpidersseedsgarlicKaleDuckMourning Cloaksalamanderspeonyhomemade paradephotographyskipper. hairstreakAurora DamselCommon BaskettailBullfrogoil spilltucanGiant Water Bugbaptisiasalviacurlinggardeningcrescentwoodsbutterfly. skipper. hairstreakyellowWidow Skimmerpeacocksletter boxEastern Newtgardendaisyblue bottlesKivahairstreakchanterellebee swarmfritillaryDuke Gardenscohosheggjacanamacrogazing ballrosecloverclematiscontestDurhambeetspieblueBlack Swallowtailmushroomdogsdarnerbenchpearlclothes linefallpondhawkQuestion MarkbeescompostLumber iverbeaver queenDelphiniumchicken coopsOrnate Pennantbutterflycob cottagebottle chapelViceroyBlue CorporalorangeharvesterhyacinthdragonfliesbutterflieslilySouthern SpreadwingeggplantaninasturtiumAtlanticoconee bellstin manwinterredbuddotcoppersToad LilyCSAgordoniabrown snakesalivafarm tourconeflowermorelsnowdriftgreeningrain chainsSpring BeautyCherrysquirrelsLittle Yellowswiss chardherpsCarolina AnoleacornsbridgesmanureanemoneOhio Erie CanalspottedjaponicaHayhursts Scallopwingleaf-footed bugbistroMabry MillcomfreypotooclubtailCut-leaf Toothworthouselady's-slippersdonkeyFarmers marketDiminutive Clubtailsnowmagnolialeaveshost plantshttp://rlephoto.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)Blogger341125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3289527795087884175Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:42:00 +00002012-02-25T20:42:36.246-05:00helleboresWell we arrived about 30 minutes after the festival started, barely a parking space. A lot of the best hellebores had been chosen already. The plan was to get 2 maybe 3, instead we got 7. I'll show you in the next post what we got. The day was sunny, chilly and extremely windy, so getting good garden photos was a real challenge. Here are some of the hellebores from the gardens at Pine Knot Farmhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/sVwjPvUzuk4/pine-knot-farms-hellebore-fest-2012.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/sVwjPvUzuk4" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/pine-knot-farms-hellebore-fest-2012.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-8247690818900242477Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:12:00 +00002012-02-24T23:21:44.123-05:00varroa treatmentcrocushelleboresLast Spring I purchased a Corsican Hellebore, I'd been admiring the same plant on Catherine's blog in the Pacific Northwest. Once I stumbled onto the plant I just had to have it. Corsican Hellebore, unlike most of the other hellebores in our garden this one grows many flowers on the same stem, there will be 4-5 other flower this year. In future years it should have a lot more than this first http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/9_OWsCaY-Jw/new-hellebores-blooming-in-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)11<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/9_OWsCaY-Jw" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-hellebores-blooming-in-garden.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-2359666198582740575Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:40:00 +00002012-02-23T20:45:53.864-05:00crocusbeekeepingLast Friday I did a hive inspection. The hive looks pretty good for the most part. The hive has plenty of honey stores almost 10 deep frames of honey. Pollen was less than I expected given the bees have been bringing in non stop on warm days. Surely they must be consuming it for brood production as they get it. Brood was light, no packed frames by any means, this should be OK as it is still http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/KiBtlbrj_-A/bees-update-febuary-22.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)10<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/KiBtlbrj_-A" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/bees-update-febuary-22.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-6439032590449304738Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:24:00 +00002012-02-23T20:47:38.883-05:00rain chainssnowhelleboresLast night we received almost two inches of snow. Today it mostly melted. It was wet snow and weighted down the hellebores and camellias to the ground nearly. No harm was done. As many of you might already know we have not really had a real winter here.  First time we had ice in the rain chains!!  This is the chair I sit in to watch the bees come and go at the hive. It did not take long for thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/zYj3s_z18UU/finally-winter-arrives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)11<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/zYj3s_z18UU" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/finally-winter-arrives.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-5624180359744138990Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:30:00 +00002012-02-18T18:30:42.739-05:00beekeepingDeadline Tuesday: Save the honey bees! Dear Friends, Since 2006, U.S. honey bee populations have been in precipitous decline, with some estimates suggesting losses as high as 30% per year. While that's terrible, the problem is far greater than just the loss of a species. Without bees, our food supply is in serious danger. Pollination by honey bees is key in cultivating the crops that http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/qQth80Y0Uzc/urgent-save-bees-by-tuesday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/qQth80Y0Uzc" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/urgent-save-bees-by-tuesday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-1680804028478585509Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:11:00 +00002012-02-16T10:44:24.929-05:00peaspansieshelleboresbeekeepingI've been reading Bloom Day posts for years but have never joined in with my own post. Today I'm late but wanted to join. Hellebores in the garden are really going at it, many more yet to open, so I thought I would show you what we have right now, not all but some of our best. We plan on going on Saturday Feb. 25 to the Pine Knot Farms Hellebore Festival Any one else going let me know perhaps wehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/56p412JwQEk/bloom-day-my-first.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)18<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/56p412JwQEk" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/bloom-day-my-first.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-5795701538289764439Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:54:00 +00002012-02-14T08:03:41.946-05:00benchesDuke GardensValentines Day is supposed to be a day when you share a little extra love with your loved ones.  Wanted to pass on that love to everyone that visits my blog! These days we seem to live in a world of the politics of fear... We need to get beyond starting wars with the rest of the world and work towards world peace. I was at Duke Gardens a few weeks ago and found this ancient garden bench that http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/IfGOPq6M070/happy-valentines-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/IfGOPq6M070" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-valentines-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3390402984282771287Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:11:00 +00002012-02-11T12:11:44.829-05:00camelliasbottle treeblue bottlesAbout a year ago I saw this huge bottle flower in Durham, NC. Did not have the camera with me, but promised myself I'd return with a camera. It was a nice cloudy day and I  was close by with some free time and I finally took some photos for your enjoyment. Just might have to get my plumber buddy who enjoys working with scrap steel and a welder make us one of these. I wondered how the bottles werehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/-pyllFjbNLo/giant-bottle-flowers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/-pyllFjbNLo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/giant-bottle-flowers.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-45407902304438453Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:31:00 +00002012-02-09T10:33:41.330-05:00coppersstained glassbutterfliesThis blog is a week away from our third year anniversary. Never would have thought it would last this long. One post on yard art has seen 2900 visits  and we have had 4550 comments thus far! Any way I wanted to share some of my butterfly photo collection, I have been photographing butterflies since the fall of 1997. Here are an assortment of all the different copper species I have photographed.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/RRyz94vJFCU/this-blog-is-week-away-from-our-third.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/RRyz94vJFCU" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-blog-is-week-away-from-our-third.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3876677244634639622Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:15:00 +00002012-02-06T17:15:30.109-05:00camelliashelleboresgardeningIt has been almost like winter around here. Yesterday it never reached 50 degrees, last night we had a frost. Still no real winter to speak of, the pond froze over for a few days in December I think.  Wanted to share a few newbies in the garden. This is one of those cloned named double hellebores. I got it last fall for $8 a steal at a tiny home nursery! It is called Cotton Candy. Looks to havehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/VS5Dy7y3Wgo/hellebore-double-cotton-candy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/VS5Dy7y3Wgo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/hellebore-double-cotton-candy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-150839670403999084Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:55:00 +00002012-02-02T08:55:53.027-05:00Duke Gardens A few weeks ago I visited Duke Gardens and mentioned the new gazebo. Here it is, appears to be mortise and peg built, I saw no bolts securing it together. The arched timbers I would surmise they were 6 x 12 or larger and cut on a huge bandsaw to make the curves, very cool.  Can you imagine what this will look like when the garden gets going?  This is the new stairs at the main entry to the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/dCZPb7fOGic/new-gazebo-at-duke-gardens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)13<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/dCZPb7fOGic" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/02/new-gazebo-at-duke-gardens.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-5192254108248768390Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:36:00 +00002012-01-31T06:45:18.497-05:00crocushelleboresdaffodilsThis morning I found our first double hellebore blooming in the garden. It is a Pine Knot Farms 'Southern Belles' Double Pink. I purchased it late is the season last year and this is our first ever double bloom in the garden! It is a tiny bloom perhaps at best 1 1/2 inches across. Other news in the garden on Saturday we had 5 different crocuses blooming in the garden and our first daffodil. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/xips1wU5Zjg/first-double-hellbore.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)16<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/xips1wU5Zjg" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-double-hellbore.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-1319150254448896117Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:23:00 +00002012-01-26T19:47:39.588-05:00peascrocusgarlicanemonehelleboresbeekeepingThe best crop of sugar snap peas we have ever had here were planted early, on January 21th. Here is central North Carolina it gets pretty hot by the end of April, peas do not like warm weather. So given my work schedule was open today I went out and got my hands dirty! It is supposed to rain the next two days so it was now or wait til the soil is dry enough. I worked the two 8 foot strips were Ihttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/HMraNbcx2Ds/planted-sugar-snap-peas-today.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)13<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/HMraNbcx2Ds" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/planted-sugar-snap-peas-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-2113133538444655078Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:22:00 +00002012-01-25T19:57:12.802-05:00snow dropDuke GardenshelleboresgardenbeekeepingThe cold frames have had some new stuff planted. I removed what was left of the nasturtium (which froze) and planted Detroit Red Beets, Early Blood Turnip Beets, Mesclun salad mix. These were planted in the solo cold frame nearest the beehive. This was on January 21. In the double cold frame left side I harvested(pulled out) half the mustard greens and half the Lactino Kale. I then planted Whitehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/QaJN18bOlXo/garden-update-3rd-week-of-january-ect.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)7<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/QaJN18bOlXo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/garden-update-3rd-week-of-january-ect.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-8210648262568979298Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:50:00 +00002012-01-23T17:35:16.445-05:00camelliasMallardDuke GardensThanks to all that kindly commented on the passing of Grumpy the cat, Meg and I were lifted greatly by your wonderful support. Valentine is trying out for coffee kitty, she is a leg kitty, only when you have been very still. Thinking about fostering another cat from Independent Animal Rescue in Durham for now. On January 20th I walked around Duke Gardens to see if any camellias were blooming. I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/aCjtd9w_FWI/january-camellias-duke-gardens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)14<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/aCjtd9w_FWI" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-camellias-duke-gardens.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-965031716350735421Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:04:00 +00002012-01-20T09:04:37.607-05:00Grumpy  Here is the very first photo I took with my new camera on Christmas day. Yesterday day morning about 6am Meg found Grumpy on the dog's bed with his back legs paralyzed. I heard him in the middle of the night screaming loudly, but ignored it as he does this often. By 7am he was at the vets office. His legs were 93 degrees and it did not look very good for him, likely a blood clot was the cause.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/N-F6uELGlpo/sad-day-yesterday.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)28<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/N-F6uELGlpo" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/sad-day-yesterday.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3050146948038201669Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:37:00 +00002012-01-17T17:48:21.688-05:00crocusanemonebeekeepingToday it reached 65 degrees after 4 very cold nights down into the 20s. On Thursday I grabbed the hive and lifted it to check the weight. I thought it was getting light, bees need 10 pounds of honey a week when they are raising brood, that is 40 pounds for just February. With all the recent pollen that has been brought back to the hive I suspected the bees were raising brood so I was a little http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/S8Gl8Sb8--g/spring-like-day-here-looked-into-hive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/S8Gl8Sb8--g" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/spring-like-day-here-looked-into-hive.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-100995806332940498Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:03:00 +00002012-01-14T22:09:02.824-05:00helleboresbeekeepingYesterday I was driving and noticed yellow daffodils blooming right up the street. Then later found two places with Helleborus x hybridus in bloom red and white flowers were fully open. Here at our place  Helleborus niger 'jacob' opened in late November then Helleborus foetidus opened shortly afterward. Now a few days ago Helleborus X ericsmithii HGC 'Silvermoon' has started blooming.   http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/U6AWXczdIHc/hellebores-spring-and-new-bees.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)8<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/U6AWXczdIHc" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/hellebores-spring-and-new-bees.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-424937512519273978Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:36:00 +00002012-01-08T20:36:49.093-05:00birdscrocusbeekeepingCrocus sieberi “Firefly” This morning I was making my rounds in the garden and found the first crocus of the year! I was not expecting it, but under the leaves it was peaking out. Just one blooming that was it. Counted 9 hellebores with buds, last weekend there were only 5 with buds. We also had our first cook out of the year yesterday. Meg had invited some teachers over for a small party and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/dCcY62TZfTg/spring-here-already.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)15<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/dCcY62TZfTg" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/spring-here-already.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-3674212896173811201Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:11:00 +00002012-01-08T11:01:06.407-05:00Beautiful day here in the Carolinas! Going into the mid 60s again today. Yesterday I did a quick check of the bees at noon. Saw 5-6 bees in less than a minute with full pollen sacks! Guess the big chill the other day was not much effect. The Sugar Snap Peas that are 3 foot tall in the garden, the tops are frosted. No buds yet, not sure if these fall planted peas will make it. I found an anemone http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/eps5TfFau2I/banking-fees-ect.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/eps5TfFau2I" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/banking-fees-ect.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-7787846782686086503Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:00:00 +00002012-01-05T18:00:26.298-05:00The weather man was calling for 16 degrees the night before last, not sure if it got that cold or not. Our thermometer at daylight said 21 degrees F when I looked out at it. The pansies and violas looked pretty bad, but survived. The camellias in bloom it looks like the remaining buds are done.  The cold frames has some frost damage inside, arugula was the worst hit, even the garlic and onions inhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/G_KCT2E_M2M/21-degrees-other-night.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/G_KCT2E_M2M" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/21-degrees-other-night.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-1806936877965059073Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:44:00 +00002012-01-02T07:25:10.320-05:00beesblue bottlesmushroomGrumpycarrotsbeekeepingHope everyone had a great New Years celebration last night. Ours was quiet, Meg was in bed by 10:15pm. It reached 65 degrees here today and was a beautiful day. Anyway the bees were happy today bringing in lots of pollen, they acted very elated as you can see in my slow motion video below. I found them nectaring on camellias, helleborus niger and Helleborus foetidus as well as violas and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/kB-WvXlH9sA/beautiful-first-day-of-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)11<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/kB-WvXlH9sA" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2012/01/beautiful-first-day-of-year.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-624294946991407662Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:46:00 +00002011-12-31T18:02:51.013-05:00helleboresbeekeepingHard to believe it went so quickly... We just got back from visiting family in Ohio. Everyone is well although I picked up a cold when I got there. The cold is much improved as I'm no longer stuck inside the dry heat. Christmas brought me a new camera! It is a Canon PowerShot SX40 HS zooms from 24mm to 840mm pretty cool! It also has a red button on the back, press the red button and your http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/rWZipH-9dso/end-of-2011.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)10<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/rWZipH-9dso" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2011/12/end-of-2011.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-5977608541924938621Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:24:00 +00002011-12-24T11:24:09.209-05:00Everyone from our house to your a very special warm greeting to you and yours.  Now for all the gifts... Oh it looks like Valentine thinks she is the gift.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/FC2FVvFONpg/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-years.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)14<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/FC2FVvFONpg" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2011/12/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-years.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32800870.post-7715575729593532649Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:39:00 +00002011-12-22T17:58:22.816-05:00Eat More KalebeekeepingToday was a tee shirt day here in Durham, NC, hard to believe Christmas is right around the corner. Anyway I was out in the garden at 10AM today and the bees were busy. First thing I saw was 2 undertaker bees removing dead bees. All the worker bees at one point in their short life have different jobs to preform at different ages, undertaking is one of there jobs during their cycle. Anyway the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~3/bgm_XBdA52Q/bees-christmas-shopping.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Randy Emmitt)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/RandyAndMegsGardenParadise/~4/bgm_XBdA52Q" height="1" width="1"/>http://rlephoto.blogspot.com/2011/12/bees-christmas-shopping.html