Venus Flytrap

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Amazing! That is the only word to describe my experience.

We vacationed this week in North Carolina. A small little island just minutes away from Wilmington............which is a great historic town. Shops are rather disappointing, but the charm oozes between the thick buckled bricks of the cobblestone walkways. We found a very quaint garden shop..................Greg wanted to buy something for my b-day ..........on a back table up against a wall my eyes fell on a replica of a bee skep( a domed hive made of twisted straw). Companion less and solitary, it sat by itself...........so unique, so wondrous. Although it was a likeness, I had never seen one outside of the pages of my bee books and journals. These skeps were used across the pond in pre-1500. I don't know if they ever made their way to North America. Being a beekeeper I could only marvel in awe and knew it had just found its permanent home.

We had lunch in an oyster bar in the old Cotton Mill which faced the Cape Fear River. Had the best charbroiled hamburger.......done to perfection on a toasted bum. My mouth is watering now.

Greg took a tour on the Carolina Battle Ship that was in the war while I danced through the parking lot collecting Spanish moss that hung from the trees like antique lace.

What made the trip so unique was the Venus Flytrap. The only place in North America they grow in their own natural habitat is in Carolina State Park, just minutes from our condo. So of course I had to see them. This would most probably be my only chance.

I inquired with a park ranger and he told me they were located on the Venus Flytrap Trail........behind a rickety wooden section of fence with a "Do not Enter" sign............beyond that, he said, you will find them.

What he didn't tell me was that they are so small and so few that had I been looking straight at them, I wouldn't have seen them. Lucky for me there were others searching. So I shared my information with them and we were all very gingerly walking off the trail and through the grasses and plants............our heads bent low......whisper quiet as if our silence depended on finding them. For the life of me I could not spot any......just as I was about to go back to the ranger station........someone yelled, "We found them". And there they were. Tiny clusters of green and red traps. And they were so lovely. The Venus Flytrap is a small plant. Their trapping mechanism is so specialized that it can distinguish between living prey (flies, spiders and other insects) and non prey like rain drops.

The edges of their lobe are fringed by stiff hair-like protrusions. They are both unique and magical. Life is full of wonder..................

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Beekeeping at its best

It's been 7 weeks since I installed my bee's. I started out with weekly visits, which then grew to bi-weekly. I've fed them (sugar water), clean off all the burr comb, inspected each frame for brood, eggs, larvae and pollen. The queen always looked to be busy, running from one cell to another laying eggs faster than I can locate them. By the way, the marking Donna gave her is still a very becoming fluorescent green.

I've had to destroy a couple of wasp nests that decided to take up camp inside the hive. They are very persistent and I've had to kick them out on three occasions. Then there were the ants. They wanted what they believed to be their share of the sugar water I was feeding the bees. I read somewhere that if I put cinnamon all around and create this barrier, the bees would leave as they detest that smell. It bothers the bee not at all.

Well, since all I had were cinnamon sticks I used those. The following week the ants had quadrupled their numbers! I was pissed! And worked feverishly to rid the hive of every last nuisance. All these ( tidying the hive ) tasks could be trying, but needed doing.

On this visit I had discovered that my attentiveness and care had paid off. Royralily. Wonderfully, Spectacularly. Miraculously.

Bees were everywhere! They almost looked to be forming a swarm. I pumped the smoker quickly, streams of grey smoke billowing all around them as head first they dove deeper into the super. Just weeks ago I had added another super with 8 frames. They were almost full again! The upper frames were bulging with honey. This beautiful, golden, thick, rich honey.

The morning sun was hot, the air still and heavy with humidity, droplets of sweat running down my face beneath the cumbersome veil. It was then I really understood the importance of surgeons having their foreheads wiped. Its difficult to see with salty sweat impeding your vision.

Working my way through, frame by frame, I saw just how their numbers had multiplied. And the brood filled comb was further proof that this hive was thriving. Contentment surged. My chest felt warm. My heart felt love. My smile widened as I wiped the moisture from my eyes. This is beekeeping. Its like watching your babies grow. This wonderful hive of mine will make a difference in the world. To know I have nurtured this along fills me with both humility and pride.

Thy will be done.

The Great Smokey Mountains

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Share This Uploaded on May 12, 2010 by firefly110 firefly110's photostream 31 uploads People in this photo Add a person Tags   Add a tag Additional Information  All rights reserved (edit)Anyone can see this photo (edit) Add to your map Taken with a Panasonic DMC-FZ28. More properties Taken on May 1, 2010 (edit) Photo stats Viewed 0 times  (Not including you) Edit title, description, and tags Flag your photo

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Long shadows fall over the peaks, valleys and ridges of Mt Leconte as afternoon settles into evening. I came here to heal from the rigors of life.................the locals refer to this as God's country..........and I must  agree.

Its magnificents fill me up and I'm inspired to be more.........the peace and silence washes over me making clean all the tarnished places that brought me to this place of serenity. As I gaze into this kind of bounty it enables me to see the real importance of life. ........appreciation and the acquisition of peace.

I want to be more than a spectator. I want to lie down and spread myself upon its surface and allow the rain, sun and shade of the seasons to penetrate my spirit. Its so alive here. The birds sing their morning songs of contentment and excitement for the new day ahead......spiders weave their webs on any branches or growth that will support  their life. And then there are the flowers...................The azalea's are the real show stoppers.......their blooms rich, deep, distinct, intense and brilliant. Their resplendent and luminescent color surreal.. They are simply that outrageously exquisite and captivating robed in pinks, fuchsia, reds and purples............Their blooms dare not last the summer, as their beauty would cast shadows over the rest of the forests foliage.

We take a trail,  the quickly moving stream on one side..........the lush forest foliage on the other. So many spring flowers on display..........a fairy wand, a dense , elongated cluster of little white flowers on a wand-like stalk, painted trillium,  dwarf Isis's, may apples, Canadian violets.... foam flowers....even a rare finding Jack-in -the-pulpit.

In these moments, joy becomes who you are and a confidence... a knowingness lifts your doubts as they disappear like smoke form a faltered flame. This is peace.....happiness in its purest form. And if I fail to feel it....if I ever fail to feel a thing of beauty, it becomes a gift  I have overlooked, not  recognized........ a tragic loss.

Yes, I have come here to the mountains to heal.......its beauty and power demand my submission......and with reverence I bow my head with humble gratefulness and the miracle before me.

Of course we shop........The black bear tea company....teas from all over the world. I must admit that regular 'store bought tea is not for me.' I select the peach - apricot, and the ground ginger for soothing and a more tranquil disposition. It is by far the cleanest, purest tea I have ever indulged in.  Fudge for Mom....post cards for Dad.......the unique craft village (an 8 mile loop of fabulous shops carved from the creative side of long time residences........information centers overflowing with history and color and amazement......the hot tub overlooking mountain vistas as I sip a late afternoon cocktail............dinners out, dinners in.  Makes little difference as beauty surrounds us wherever we go.

Its hard to imagine places where time stands still and erect. You can hear a single leaf falling through the branches of a tree and softly and soundlessly falling to the ground. Birds glide with such ease and gracefulness you can feel yourself along for the ride, adrenlin rushes in from the high.........scampering squirrels.....woodchucks..........and if your as fortunate as Greg, a sighting of bears crossing the road caring not for anything except their next meal.

This place of reverence I would share with you. Coming here is like stripping the barnacles from a ship................we become again what we once were but have forgotten. Can we even remember what that was. And if we don't.........well..........we can only understand that our journey is in search of its discovery.

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