Spring has finally arrived in Boston!

It was a long, rough winter for Boston, MA.  More snow than we have ever seen!  But signs of spring have finally arrived - later than usual.  Our snowdrops appeared late this year, here one blooms on April 6, 2015, in my yard outside of Boston.  What a treat, a lovely bee stopped by!  Notice the pollen that has stuck to her hairs.  As she visits other snowdrops she will pollinate them, and she will bring pollen back to her hive.  Bees will mix pollen and nectar to create beebread, a protein-rich food for their larvae.  Below the crocus have also blossomed in my yard.  Notice the orange pollen that has fallen from the stamen.  It has collected on the petals.