Honey bees abound in France’s wild bay laurels

Sweet bay laurel flowers attracting honey bee in la mer des roches near Sauve, France

Walking in the garrigue, the scrub oak land above the village of Sauve, France a few weeks ago, I was listening to incredibly diverse bird songs including the most elaborate symphony with a rossingnol or nightingale as the featured soloist. Further down the path I stopped to observe a thriving colony of honey bees hard at work on an enormous fragrant flower laden bay laurel.  I watched them for more than half an hour and attempted to photograph them. Perhaps a video would have been a little more successful! The warm sun on my shoulders, the sweet floral fragrance and their unhurried steady pursuit of the nectar and pollen mesmerized me. It was awe inspiring to witness a wilderness free of pesticides and especially neonicotinoids, the neuroactive chemical which is believed to be causing the massive beepocolypse happening as bee colonies are dying in catastrophic numbers around the world. Rather than waiting for all the bees to disappear, for the time being France has halted the use of these hideous chemicals.

Path in the mer des roches

Laurus nobilis

Fragrant sweet bay leaves

Sweet bay laurel leaves

Bees=Pollination=Fruit=Sustainability

Nectar to honey-la miel de la garrigue