My Butterfly and Bee adventures
Journal entries from my sit spot “bee hill”
Spring 2020
I have a sit spot here in Brisbane on top of a hill where I have the most beautiful view of the bay. I was going up there almost every day in March and April (during the pandemic) because it was full of wildflowers and tall grasses that sway in the wind. I would watch the boats out on the bay and get into my zen head space. I love watching sun flecks dance across the water. I have a favorite tree stump there where I meditate, journal and reflect. It’s near the bee hives that are kept up there. I even go there at night to watch the sunset and see the stars. I bring a blanket and I lay on my back and try to identify the stars. I’m grateful that during COVID-19 I have had more time for these indulgences like this. I have learned my way around this area very well with the stay home order. I feel blissful up there on top of the world.
April 19, 2020
Sometimes I bring my neighbor/friend with me to the place I have nick named “Bee hill.” I love introducing my hidden spots to other people and teaching them what I know or want to learn about the plants and insects I see up there. One day when we were together, I met the bee keeper and I asked if I could come along when he was tending the bees. The bee keepers name is Russ, but I always call him “the Brisbane bee guy.” He has some hives by the community garden in town and he loaned me an extra suit so I could tag along. I was over joyed about the experience…maybe to the point of being annoyingly inquisitive the entire time.
It was a great experience to wear a suit and get so immersed in the work of a bee keeper. I learned about using smoke to calm the bees and pheromone spray at the entrance of the hive to attract more bees. As soon as I finish grad school, I will consider joining the local beekeeper’s guild to learn more. In the meantime, I got this great book to get me started.
***It’s also featured in the resource section of this website.
I saved some of the honey combs and put them in a jar so I could share with the children someday. At my old school we always showed the children where the food came from before eating it. We often shared grape vines, sunflower plants and tiny carrot seeds before eating. Parents loved that! They learned too.
I actually got stung that day. It was while I was putting my suit on. I had my arm raised and the bee got me just under the arm pit on the flesh where the breast attaches to the back. So, it’s a tender spot. The bee keeper said it probably bit me but didn’t sting. I have been stung hundred of times in my life. No harm no foul. It’s part of being outdoors.
****Go to the herbal remedy section of this website to get an all-natural remedy for bee stings that works for me every time.
April 20, 2020
Today was a fascinating day at bee hill. I encountered mating butterflies!!! I have never seen anything like this before! It was extremely fascinating- I have no words to describe this experience. You’ll have to watch and listen to the video story below for all of the juicy details.
I was engrossed while I watched these two butterflies “getting busy.” Another one kept trying to interrupt. Over and over again it tried to either join or distract? And you’ll see in the video how close I was allowed to get to them. The butterfly is called a Variable Checker-spot and it’s attracted to the California bee plant and sticky monkey flower, which both grow on bee hill.
There’s a Waldorf School song that I learned from Teacher Amanda at SCFS. The music is featured in this video.
Spring is here said the bumble bee
How do you know said the old oak tree?
I saw yellow daffodils dancing with the fairies on the windy hill.
View of SF from “bee hill”