The scourge of the spurge

On my last day in France, I stumbled upon a small garden that I had visited once (also while wandering around a bit lost) almost six years before.  I remembered the garden as being full of bright flowers and buzzing insects, but on this cold spring day everything seemed green and still.  However, as I continued along the narrow path, I discovered that not all of the green was simply foliage.  All along the back of the garden, spurge (Euphorbia sp.) plants were topped with light green inflorescences full of little flowers...

One of the many flies that I found visiting the spurge (Euphorbia sp.) flowers.

... and also surprisingly full of large flies, given the lack of pollinators everywhere else I had looked.  I began to get my hopes up -- where I could find flies, I might also be able to find a spider.  A few plants later, there it was: a small spider, but with a good chance of growing larger very soon.

A small spider lurking amongst the spurge flowers.

Les pigeons terribles

Although I was disappointed that there were no insects in the flowers, I did observe some flowers  receive a visitor of another kind.  As I was walking along and admiring the blossoms on a group of small fruit trees, my eye was caught by a large shape that dropped onto one of the branches, bending it nearly to the ground.

The common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) just after landing in the tree.

The bird that had landed was a common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus), which is considerably larger than the standard pigeon (a.k.a. rock pigeon or rock dove, Columba livia).  I was surprised that the pigeon had landed on a branch that could barely support its weight -- and I was even more surprised when the pigeon turned towards the nearest bunch of flowers and ate them. 

A common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) eating the pretty flowers.

The pigeon then proceeded to eat all the flowers it could reach from its precarious perch.  Later on, I was no longer surprised to find that not only are these pigeons shameless, they are fearless as well!

A common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) calmly sitting tête-à-tête with an eagle.

La maison des insectes

After a few mild days in Florida, it was time for me to return to winter -- or rather, à l'hiver.  I arrived in France on a warm and sunny day, which was abruptly followed by several days of bitterly cold winds and snow flurries, then several more days of rain and sleet.  Nevertheless, many early spring flowers were blooming and I was determined to see them -- and check them for insects and spiders.

Crocuses blooming in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

However, there did not seem to be any insects that were similarly determined to disregard the weather and visit the flowers.  After finding a sign warning that there was a 'danger' of bees, I had a bit of hope that I might at last encounter some insects.

"Do not walk on the lawn. Danger bees."

Yet, even at the headquarters of the dangerous bees, all was quiet.

The hives of the danger bees.

Apparently, the bees were spending a quiet day at home in their hives.  Meanwhile, were all the other insects left to fend for themselves in the elements?  Mais, non!  They could retreat to their very own refuges within the Maison des Insectes.

A shelter for many other beneficial insects.

Explore some more: Build your own insect house