I suppose there is nothing intrinsically Canadian about the Echinacea or Cone Flower but I noticed these fine examples hanging on to the last of the summer sun in the garden. They were also attracting a number of bees collecting pollen and all in all I think they make stunning images.
So yesterday I posted a picture of a beautiful hoverfly on one of these flowers and if you didn't see it I promise it is worth taking a moment to have a look (click on this link).
Today here is a honey bee busy at work gathering pollen, as you can see he is covered in the stuff. Talking to one of the staff members at Rufford Old Hall (where this shot was taken) I learned that over the last winter the halls' colony of bees disappeared but a new colony was brought in and this little chap is playing an important role in creating honey to be sold in the gift shop and maintaining a long tradition of bee keeping at Rufford.
Even though it was cold, cloudy and threatening rain these bees had to get busy. The first two pictures show a couple of bees gathering nectar with the second one not even bothering to settle on the flower, its wings are little more than a blur. The third shot is of another bee taking a short break on a rocky path, look closely and you can see the tiny grains of pollen clinging to its hairs.
