A Patch of Oregano

It was a day filled with glorious sunshine when I walked outside and sat down on the steps of our walkway to finish a bite of sandwich I made for my lunch.

I glanced down the walkway at the flower bed that fills that corner of the sidewalk leading to the driveway, and thought of the plans I have had in mind for this flower bed... yet fall short in making them happen. I have even bought plants in the past, intending to plant them there and visualizing how beautiful they would look once given a place to grow and flourish.

In the winter months, this area is absolutely barren without much sign of plant life, with exception of a couple of Rose bushes, a stately Japanese Maple tree and some Evergreen shrubs placed just off the curbside. Come Spring and warmer weather, the scenery slowly begins it's transformation and dormant plants beneath the soil begin to creep to life. A few Tulips rise up from the ground and bloom their springtime flowers, and then suddenly and steadily the Oregano plants surface and begin to grow. I have two varieties within that flower bed...each with a different hue of purple blossoms that display along the stems as they shoot up in height to maturity. I love the way they look when they are in bloom, but I am not the only one attracted and appreciative of these perennial herbal plants. They represent an important meeting ground and hub of activity for many different varieties of bees in all shapes, sizes and colors that converge each year upon this patch of oregano.

In they fly on a mission with a purpose. Time is short and of the essence for these busy and buzzing bees. It's an amazing sight to witness...really, and to acknowledge how Mother Nature created this wonderful Eco system where dedicated bees gather nectar and pollen that enable plants to reproduce. In return, pollen feeds baby bees and nectar is turned into honey to be enjoyed by other bee inhabitants in their respective hives.

As I sat there taking in the flying, the darting, the swooping down of the bees upon and amongst those flowers, I began to think that perhaps what I am witnessing truly is important..and that the least I can do is to maintain the status quo. I am sure that the bee communities that arrive, without fail, in my garden each summer and descend upon my patch of Oregano would be in complete agreement with that decision.