Friday, July 20, 2012

Hyssop Honey

The Children of Israel used it for a paint brush.  I'm beginning to see why.  A month or so ago Things I get to do today included learning  more about Camphor Hyssop.  All I knew before I read about it in the seed catalog is summed up in this post's first sentence--used as a paint brush.
Some of these purple brushes are nearly 6" long




















The bees it was supposed to attract had not yet found it or its nectar was not yet available.  But now, now the flowers are long and fuzzy, and the whole nearly-seven-feet-tall grouping of perennial hyssops are humming with the prospect of honey.  First thing in the morning until last warmth of the evening you'll find golden, furry honey bees from my neighbor's hive collected around the purple columns, pushing their eager tongues deep into the micro throats of this delicate flower from the mint family that grows outside and up against my living room window--a perfect viewing area. I wonder if there is even a teaspoon of honey altogether here for their efforts.  It matters not to the bees.  The 30 or so girls working the blooms this morning are finding what they are looking for.

5 comments:

  1. This photo made my day -- thank you for your great blog.

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    1. A-a-ah! Thanks, Lisa. I'll be doing more about bees soon. Went to a bee class with Jacqueline Freeman on Thursday night. I stand in awe.

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  2. I see these will be in our flower bed next year. Thanks for the research.

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    1. Just found out that bees are most attracted to purplish flowers. I see that true in my yard. Red is their least favorite. How nice that the balance of Nature finds humming birds headed to the red ones.

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  3. Lovely!
    I think I have seed for hyssop ... if not, I will definitely add it to my list for next season :) .
    Blessings,
    Catherine

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