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LITTLE DARLINGS

 


 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

17/VIII/2025

 

‘Adeniums’ in our garden welcome us every morning with such magnificent blooms that you break into a smile without much ado. We are loving it.

 

My wife had a desire to bring home a ‘Sone Chafa’ plant, which we had added to the Ellis’ Garden a week back. A lone bud was showing and today it has bloomed. A yellowish flower and that is where the colour ‘sone’ or gold it derives it’s name from. The aroma is just too sweet to ignore.

 

Having taken a photo, my next stop was at the pink rain lily. Though one has photographed it a dozen times but today it was different. A new kind of wasp/bee was busy collecting pollen by buzzing into the centre of the flower. It came back again and again as if it had found a treasure trove.

 

The difference between a common honey bee and her was the bluish tinge that she had, with stripes on her body. I had seen smaller versions of her but this was as big as a bumble bee. She was fast and agile, but her attraction to the flower could not escape my camera. I am not sure if they make honey or stay in colonies like honey bees but suffice to say the spectacle was eye catching.

 

There were other flowers and birds too enjoying the morning with us, plus the centre of attraction called the ‘Water Mosaic’ plant has found roots and started to spread. A unique sight to see.

 

Then of course my favourite ‘Tailor Bird’ who has become my darling. She doesn’t fear me anymore. All she needs is a few drops of water on plants which gives her an opportunity to bathe. Ruffling her feathers from side to side, she immerses herself in the wetness. All the leaves which hold water are visited one by one. In the bargain, a few insects hiding under the leaves become breakfast for her.

 

Catching the bird and bee in motion was an achievement for me. One needs a stable hand and a rough idea of the movement of the subject. Some patience and some ‘fielding’ is also needed.

 

The sun was playing only hide and no seek today, so rain could be expected. Rain water collected on the leaves will give me another opportunity to see this little birdy up close.

 

The lily would be there for another day or two. Hopefully by then, another rain lily would flower and this bee would remain in action.

 

https://youtu.be/JdiTcW9kaVY

 

Will these little darlings return? I wonder!!!!!!

 

JAI HIND
©® NOEL ELLIS

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