Wet bumblebees and Manning Park

In August, we went to Manning Provincial Park for a couple of days, staying at Manning Park Lodge. Manning is about two hours inland (east) from our house, and the mountains are spectacular. We went kayaking, hiking and horseback riding. Lots o' fun. Anyhoo, here are some pics to tempt you to BC, although it was rather cold the day I took these, especially on top of the mountain!

Here's view from up a mountain. The body of water is Lightning Lake, where we kayaked and saw loons, osprey, and cute little ducks that nibbled at our kayaks.


The brownness you see in the trees is damage from the pine beetle infestation. It's amazing and sad how many trees have died!

Here's another view. You can see that the grass is crispy brown. It has been a dry summer in these parts!


Don't throw your cigarette butt out the car window!

I miss Nova Scotia, but I can't deny that BC is beeyootiful.


But it was a frigging cold day!

It was also a wet day. Many bumblebees were caught out in the storm and had to hang out on the flowers, waiting until their wings were dry enough for them to fly again.


These petals don't do much to keep me dry!



Wet and bedraggled and wishing for some sunshine.


Starting to get a bit of sun on her wings.


Almost ready for takeoff!

If you can help it, don't kill bees. They are important pollinators and will generally leave you alone if you leave them alone. For a year, I taught kids about honeybees at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History. They have a working hive there. Bees, particularly honeybees, are fascinating, gentle creatures and you shouldn't fear them, although if you have a deadly allergy, make sure you carry your Epi-pen and don't go trying to befriend them!

A honeybee dies when she stings you (her stinger is left in your flesh, along with part of her abdomen), so she doesn't sting without good cause. Bumblebees can sting repeatedly, as they have a smooth stinger that doesn't stick in your skin, but they too are gentle and just want to be left alone to collect their pollen and nectar.

So be kind to bees, and they'll be kind to you!