A Magic Humming Tree
Tonight was the first evening to follow a hot day this year (we hit 80 degrees, at least) and as the stars came out, a delightful warmish breeze coursed through our valley. While I finished up chores and stood watching the horses frisk around in the front pasture, it occurred to me that it would be wonderful to sit outside for a while in the dark and enjoy that gentle humid wind. As I came toward the house, intending to call my husband, Shannon, out to join me, I found him already sitting in one of the red metal lawn chairs that make a ring under our ancient apple tree.
As we fell into our usual pattern of processing the day’s various victories and defeats on the farm, I found myself repeatedly distracted by the buzzing of large insect wings nearby. At first I thought giant beetles or locusts were diving close to us on a clumsy nocturnal hunt. But then I suddenly realized, with wonder, that the entire tree above us was humming. With bumblebees. Hundreds of them were busily moving from blossom to generously-blown blossom. I could actually feel the sound more than I could hear it.
I couldn’t resist dragging the girls away from their respective Facebook sessions inside to come out and experience the magic humming tree. “Do you think we’ll get apples this year?” asked Maggie. This tree, the only fruit tree on the farm when we bought it, has made a fair showing of apples every summer, only to drop them all on the cusp of autumn while they are still too tart to eat. Maybe the bees will be the magic that makes them stick. Maybe having the bees in the tree is just as good as having apples.
Sam said,
May 19, 2009 @ 10:38 pm
Kriss:
The bee story is great. JuJu the dog and I stopped dying silk long enough to lie(lay?) in the hammock and stare up into the maple tree for the first time this year today. I think it was that kind of a day.
Just read through all the “what’s in the box?” posts from last year. I’m very excited! Is it June 10th yet?
Sam
Jodi Bubenzer said,
May 20, 2009 @ 6:17 am
Kriss, maybe they are honey bees (I hope!). We keep bees over here and as I understand, they’ll travel up to 8+ miles for food! Maybe they are even our bees! 2 years ago, while walking in our prairie, we discovered an apple tree that had never revealed itself as an apple tree to us before. We realized that it was able to do it’s thang because of the bees! We have collected tons of apples off that tree since.
So cool. Such a cool sound!
Enjoy the spring/early summer!
Jodi
kriss marion said,
May 20, 2009 @ 8:19 am
It really was that kind of day, Sam. It is so hard this time of year to take a moment to stop and look. But something just called to us, huh? No, it’s not June 10 yet, be we are eating spinach and nettles and asparagus and rhubarb and lettuce like crazy over here – stop by and pick some! You know where I am.
Jodi – maybe the bees will make the difference for our old apple tree this year! And maybe some of the many we’ve planted will give us something this year, too.
Blessings!
Stephanie said,
May 21, 2009 @ 2:03 pm
Wonderful to hear that someone has bees. You hear so much lately about them dying off. And about those apples, I loved unripe sour apples as a kid and I still love Granny Smith best because it’s the most tart. People always told me not to eat unripe apples because I’d get a stomach ache but my sisters and I ate them all summer with no trouble. I’d wake up in the morning, tiptoe through the dewy grass in my barefeet and take a crisp sour apple back to bed with me to eat while I read. Give it a try!
Kriss said,
May 21, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Yummy! That makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
Sarah-Ji said,
June 1, 2009 @ 10:06 am
Kriss—
Thought of you and your family while we were visiting with friends up in Reedsburg on Wormfarm Institute. We had the most relaxing couple days on the farm just gazing at the tall grass on the distant hill dancing in waves with the wind, letting the kids run around freely and loudly, watching the dandelions in seed glowing in the early evening sun, breathing deeply the sweet scent of lilac wafting towards us as we strolled to and fro from house to barn, seeing stars we never knew existed.
I’m sure actual life on a farm is a lot harder work than what we experienced, but it sure was nice to get away from the city for a bit.
xoxo,
Sarah
Sarah-Ji said,
June 1, 2009 @ 10:18 am
Oh, and I meant to say that I LOVE the humming tree story! I really enjoy your writing about life on the farm.
Mark Nielsen said,
June 3, 2009 @ 10:18 am
Bzzzzz.
Reading your mention of pulling the kids off Facebook to experience REAL life made me chuckle. Also made me think of my blog post today, about the benefits of exposing my son Graham to rural Wisconsin life, and of prying ourselves away from our cable-and-internet trap here in the suburbs. I also linked from my post to your site.
We’re still hoping to finally stop in by Circle M. Maybe even this Monday, June 8, on my way back from Saxeville?! See new piglets? What are the chances you can provide an hour or two of hospitality to Graham and I? (Sue has to work maybe)