L'heure bleue du bourdon

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 6 August 2008 in Plant & Nature.

This bumble-bee enjoyed a happy hour on a blue thistle, most likely Echinops sphaerocephalus. I did several shots of this little animal and came pretty close to it; it didn't let itself distract by me. Lucky one!

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Comments (11)

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

This is beauty, the silver plant (I'm not going to attempt to spell it) and then you managed to sneak into the bee's world.

6 Aug 2008 11:24am

@JoeB: That's just a thistle :-) That bumble-bee seemed to like it, it didn't fly away.

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

This is a most decorative composition! I like the way you constructed the image and the presence of the insect makes it even more delightful!

6 Aug 2008 11:27am

@Japanalia: There were plenty of them, but this bumble-bee was closest to me. And it was obviously very hungry. :-)

Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom

A beautiful composition, many buds against a soft background, and the bee as point of interest. Great MS

6 Aug 2008 12:06pm

@Observing: Thanks, I came very close to that bumble-bee, maybe I'll post that later :-)

Steven from Chicagoland, United States

I love the composition here. And the color of the thistle looks like it is frosted over against a lush background.

6 Aug 2008 12:25pm

@Steven: Yes, that thistle has a classy colour, it's very decorative. Thanks!

Veronelle from Lens, France

un bourdon sur un chardon, la photo et la rime en plus !

6 Aug 2008 1:15pm

@Veronelle: Merci pour votre commentaire fantastique! :-)

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

I like your composition, detail and muted colors very much.

6 Aug 2008 3:19pm

@Michael Skorulski: Thank you very much. I shot this last Saturday at Cologne Botanical Garden.

Ina from Krugersdorp, South Africa

Nice colors and detail! Well done :)

6 Aug 2008 6:43pm

@Ina: Thanks, Ina! Shot at my favourite Botanical Garden.

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

Beautiful picture of this bourdon visiting those beautiful flowers. The flower with the bourdon have a very good separation with the background.

6 Aug 2008 11:41pm

@akarui: Thanks! This blue plant indeed stood out of its green neighbours and attracted many insects.

Line from Magog, Canada

It's a really lovely shot... tout à fait mignon!!

7 Aug 2008 12:28am

@Line: Merci beaucoup, Line! :-)

Dang from usa, United States

Perfect focus, and nice scene. Well done.
Bumbles usually aren't too aggressive, and go about their work even if you get within inches. Now sure how they'd react near their nests though. Wasps are generally the same until Fall when they become highly aggressive if you get close to their nests, which is easy since many are underground, and empty the nest to attack. Be careful when the weather cools, people can die from multiple stings.

7 Aug 2008 2:06pm

@Dang: Dang! Hey, welcome back, I missed you!
Usually I don't have any problems with bees, bumble-bees or wasps, I try not to move too fast and not to wave them away. Especially bumbles love our lavender at the balcony and it's always funny to watch them. Fortunately, I'm not allergic to stings. :-)

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

A one... two-- A one... two... three... four...
Half a bee, philosophically,
Must, ipso facto, half not be.
But half the bee has got to be
Vis a vis, its entity. D'you see?

Monty Python

7 Aug 2008 4:08pm

@Twelvebit: Can you hear it fly?

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