The bee trees

Any gardener worthy of his bug spray will be quick to remind us that our bee trees have come into blossom.

Some of us have come to know this tree, with its three leaved heart shaped leaf, as a linden. While it is also dubbed a basswood tree, it is generally agreed that it holds no relationship to the fish of anglers’ fame. That is, unless the fish find the honey produced from the creamy colored flowers a tempting appetizer to their aquatic diet. Others speculate that the insects drawn to the tree move along branches overhanging streams and become an easy treat for a leaping bass.

The opening of the linden flower appears timed with the passage of the summer solstice. The trees wait relatively late before displaying their showy clusters. However, bee keepers agree that these treasured trees produce the sweetest bee and hummingbird honey. The sweet-gathering birds and insects create a buzz around the trees.

July brings us to high summer when the days reach into the cobalt blue of the heavens dotted with towering dream pillows. Delightful times, the caressing air carried along upon summer breezes, warm, soft evenings fresh-scrubbed by afternoon thunderstorms. Nature’s wild horses stampeding across heavenly pastures have ushered in a season of honey and perfume, of awakening flower and flush, tender new leaves creating food and shelter, making shade for bee, bird and man.

This story was originally published July 4, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "The bee trees."