We've had a few earlier dustings of frost on susceptible parts of the landscape, but this morning is the first day I've seen widespread frost. This includes the lovely late-blooming salvias that have been going strong since September. From the fuzzy purple one nestled among boulders to the hot pink giant leaning on the back fence, to the blues of scattered patches of Brazilian Sage and the carmine of pineapple sage near the front door, all have been blooming with unbounded enthusiasm, and they've attracted every kind of bee around -- from honey bees to solitary bees to bumble bees and the mega-sized carpenter bees. The carpenter bees have been spending the night on the fuzzy purple salvia since it started blooming. These bees only live one season, and their time is winding down. Each day, I find more carpenter bee bodies lying on the ground among spent purple tubular flowers.
But still many carpenter bees have bumbled on until today. This morning, like the flowers they slumber on, the bees are painted with icy white frosting. I'm sure some will reawaken as the sun kisses and warms them. But many, I suspect, will join the bodies of their spent sisters beneath the frosted branches of the salvia they've enjoyed.
Sweet dreams to all the summer visitors. I'll be praying for long winter rains to ensure another summer and fall full of flowers and fragrance.
Nice turns of phrase. Thank you for sharing this, as it is a beautiful, though slightly sad, story.
