The little honeybee was all in as she worked the center of the Globe Mallow, Sphaeralcea ambigua. Surrounded by glorious orange walls, with an extended garden of grey-green, she exhibited single-mindedness toward her important pollination work.
As I watched, she crawled around the pollen-laden center of the bloom, oblivious to me and anything else that might disrupt her concentrated efforts. Her movements were frenzied, focused solely on the pistils of the flower.
Eventually, she worked her way out of her orange office, flew to another bloom, pollen grains speckled on her various parts.
Celebrating her dedication to task, I’m joining in with Anna and her Wednesday Vignette. Check out her beautiful Flutter and Hum for musings of various sorts.
My Gardener Says... 
I made a little foray to our local nature center on Sunday, and found an aster with three ants busying themselves in its center. They had burrowed in so deeply nothing was visible of them except their cute little rear ends — everyone’s having to work for their meals these days.
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Ant butts! I love to watch insects at work–fascinating and affirming!
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That’s a great snapshot, Tina. I love it when the bees do the same thing when visiting poppies.
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Thanks, Allison. In spring when the poppies bloom, I’ve seen 3 or 4 in a single bloom–that’s some impressive activity!
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Great photo of a busy bee, Tina! And I really like the Globe mallow too – it’s a beautiful orange with such fab foliage. Is it a TX native?
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Thanks! It is a native plant, though primarily in the far west regions which tend to higher elevations (think Big Bend, Davis Mountains). I have only one spot that is full enough sun for it and it’s also in a raised bed. I love, love this shrub!
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Cool! I didn’t even realize it was a shrub! Even better!
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The only thing I don’t like about the plant is that it tends to be weak wooded. But as long as no one is stomping around on it or tossing basketballs at it, it’s retains all of its limbs.
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I love to watch bees, and I love orange flowers, so – great photo!
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A win-win, I’d say!
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Great vignette! Bees are so fascinating. Happy Holidays!
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Yes they are and Happy Holidays to you, too, Beth!
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“All in” is a good play on words. Whenever I travel to west Texas I expect to see Sphaeralcea coccinea, scarlet globe mallow.
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