Spring training

Although Sommerzeit did not begin auspiciously, a string of sunny days has quickly faded winter into a distant memory.  Instead of snow, the ground is now covered with early-spring flowers: snowdrops (Galanthus spp.), winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), glory of the snow (Chionodoxa sp.), and crocuses (Crocus spp.).

A purple crocus (Crocus sp.) blooming outside my building.

The crocuses especially are popping up in almost every green space -- yards, city parks, and even road medians -- enlivening the city with bright splashes of white, yellow, and many shades of purple. 

One of the many crocuses (Crocus sp.) blooming in a nearby park.

In some places, the crocuses are so dense that their flowers nearly carpet the ground.  In these areas, there is a steady traffic of honey bees and bumble bees collecting nectar and pollen from the blossoms.

A European honey bee (Apis mellifera) foraging at a cluster of crocuses.

However, on these first days of the foraging season, not all of the bees have been living up to their reputation as indefatigable workers.

A European honey bee (Apis mellifera) taking a break from foraging on the crocuses.