Easter Bonnet

Apr 7, 2009

Irving Berlin wasn't writing about carpenter bees when he penned "Easter Bonnet":

In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade

I'll be all in clover and when they look you over
I'll be the proudest fellow in the Easter parade

However,  if you watch carpenter bees move from flower to flower as they gather nectar, you're bound to see one with its head inside a blossom. 

An Easter bonnet, to be sure.

I captured this image of a carpenter bee visiting a California native wildflower, "Bird's Eyes" or "Bird's-Eye Gilia" (Gilia tricolor), on the UC Davis campus. It's aptly named. It's a light lavender and purple tubular flower with a yellow throat and powder-blue stamens.


By Kathy Keatley Garvey
Author - Communications specialist

Attached Images:

CARPENTER BEE investigates a Bird's Eye blossom (Gilia tricolor) on the UC Davis campus. Pit stop for nectar! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Carpenter Bee

CARPENTER BEE snuggles inside a Bird's Eye (Gilia tricolor) blossom. Voila! An  Easter bonnet. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Easter Bonnet