The poppies are back

It has been a joy to see the return of the poppy flowers over the last week. All the plants are self seeded and have multiplied, since last year, from a single plant. With their blooming comes numerous bees eager to 'bath' in the abundant pollen gifts on offer. In a process known as 'buzz pollination', or sonication, the bees vibrate their wings at a specific frequency to help release the pollen from the stamen of the flower into the pollen 'baskets' on their hind legs - quite amazing!