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Sunday, June 8, 2014

Mosquito Season!

I know we all usually post pretty pictures of flowers or beautiful landscapes at this time of year, but it wouldn't be a true reflection of the seasons if I didn't acknowledge the mosquitoes - millions of them!

Mosquitoes appear to torment us every year in June.  They don't bother me as much as they bother some other people, including my wife, who reacts to the bites.  But they're a nuisance when you're outside, and they're a plague if you try walking in the woods!

And it wouldn't give you the right impression of the season if I gave you only one photo, because they appear in swarms, so much so that it's not uncommon to give up and run away, waving your arms madly about your head in the hopes of surviving the attack!

But there are pretty flowers around too, like this Batchelor's Button, one of my favourites for macro shots, with the contrasting purple and white.  I was lined up to shoot this one when a bumblebee zoomed in.


And the first of our large peonies are out too, attracting a horde of buzzing bees.  You can clearly see the bag of yellow pollen on this one's leg.

Just for interest, this is the plant where that single bloom had opened.  We have a group of large peonies that are the result of a cross-breeding program at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, where they were being sold as 'extras' many years ago.  So they're un-named, and perhaps unique varieties, but they do have lots of flowers.

Linking to:
http://macromonday2.blogspot.ca/

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17 comments:

  1. William KendallJune 8, 2014 at 9:10 PM

    The bees are far more appealing than those annoying little bastards.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KarenJune 8, 2014 at 9:42 PM

    That's too close a view of the little pests for my liking! Great macros. Love the Batchelor's Button, my granddaughter is growing them in a spot in my yard this year.
    Give this a try, works for us.

    HOME MADE MOSQUITO REPELLENT (ALSO FOR ANTS & FLEAS)

    Ingredients:
    1/2 litre of alcohol
    100 gram of whole cloves
    100 ml of baby oil or similar (almond, sesame, chamomile, lavender, fennel etc)

    Preparation:
    Leave cloves to marinate in alcohol four days
    Stir every morning and evening
    After 4 days add the oil
    It's now ready to use.

    How to use:
    Gently rub a few drops into the skin of the arms and legs.
    Observe the mosquitoes fleeing the room.
    Repels fleas on pets too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sheila at WolfSongBlog.ComJune 8, 2014 at 9:43 PM

    Love the Bees, not so much the mosquitoes!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pamela GordonJune 8, 2014 at 9:52 PM

    Don't forget the blackflies! :) Great photos of the mosquitoes! Also annoying is that lone mosquito that somehow makes it into the house and buzzes in your ear while you're sleeping. I like Karen's recipe above. Worth trying.

    ReplyDelete
  5. KarenWJune 8, 2014 at 10:22 PM

    No sign of any honey bees around my place but many many other types. We have hummingbird bees too. They are so neat. The mozzies are driving me mad.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Linda W.June 9, 2014 at 12:24 AM

    Wow - great macro shots of all the insects. Sorry to hear mosquito season has arrived in your area. Ugh! My daughter seems to be plagued by the 'skeeters more than the rest of us. I tell her it's because she's so sweet. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nancy JJune 9, 2014 at 12:31 AM

    Macro shots show how delicate the insects are, and bees full of pollen, super, Those peonies, here they flower in November, and are much prized and in big demand by the florists. Cheers,Jean

    ReplyDelete
  8. you-wee becauseJune 9, 2014 at 5:41 AM

    No mosquitos here in my region... ;-)))))))) (Thank goodness!)

    They can spoil the whole summer season...

    Be brave!

    Uwe.

    ReplyDelete
  9. David M. Gascoigne,June 9, 2014 at 6:12 AM

    I was on the Bruce Trail yesterday. There were mosquitos aplenty but fortunately a light breeze kept them away most of the time.

    ReplyDelete
  10. rochefleuriegardenJune 9, 2014 at 7:42 AM

    Beautiful shot of the mosquito. They are part of the whole package.

    ReplyDelete
  11. MontanagirlJune 9, 2014 at 10:11 AM

    We get mosquitoes here too - quite fiercely actually. Great shot capturing the Bee!

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  12. DebbieJune 9, 2014 at 11:41 AM

    Mosquitoes, so often ruin all the outdoor fun!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. UnknownJune 9, 2014 at 12:01 PM

    I love the bees and th peony. We have a lot of mosquitoes here too. Way too many if you ask me, but I guess they're lunch for the birds.

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownJune 9, 2014 at 3:51 PM

    I hate biting bugs. It is no fun. They are all over the place. Time to invest in off :)

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  15. HappyKJune 9, 2014 at 4:59 PM

    Haven't seen a mosquito around here yet this year. Great capture of the mosquito.
    Love the batchelor's button.

    ReplyDelete
  16. maryaustriaJune 9, 2014 at 6:21 PM

    I don´t like the mosquito so much but your shots are gorgeous! All are great!

    ReplyDelete
  17. HannahJune 9, 2014 at 6:58 PM

    I try to wear long sleeves and a hood when I'm working outside near sundown, it helps a lot. Interesting cloves recipe. Your bee shots are great, I can never seem to get close enough to them for good shots. The peony is amazing, none of my flower that profusely, like a dream.

    ReplyDelete

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