A THOUSAND BEES

In 2012 I captured a swarm of wild honeybees that had left their cottonwood tree home and clung to a branch across the Fire Mountain Canal. They eventually died of mites, but before they did they captured my undivided attention, and through photographing the honeybees I came to know a whole world of native bees.

I woke one winter morning with the phrase “A Thousand Bees” filling my imagination. Over one winter I sorted through around eight thousand images I’d taken, and selected one thousand unique images of honeybees, bumblebees, and other native bees including leafcutters, orchard bees, and sweat bees. The world these pollinators have opened up to me brings joy and purpose to my life. The plants I choose for my garden can benefit these nearly four thousand species of sentient beings; why not garden for them? Everyone benefits.

“A Thousand Bees” opened on Earth Day, April 22, 2016, at The Hive in Paonia, Colorado, and ran for six weeks. This exhibit celebrated the imperiled native and non-native bee pollinators of Colorado, with one thousand unique images on display in various formats, including large and small framed prints, posters, mugs, greeting cards, and a native pollinator tote bag.

A Few Hundred Bees

Some of these bees have appeared in my blog, but most are new on this page. Here are some of the Thousand Bees in three categories: Honeybees, Native Bees, and Bumblebees.

HONEYBEES

NATIVE BEES

BUMBLEBEES