Pass by the garden in midsummer and you notice a five foot high wall of green topped by deep purple flowers— “black and blue salvia.” I chose this plant because it is known to attract pollinators. What an understatement!
From early morning until dusk, a cloud of bees hovers around. They are so enraptured by the nectar that they barely stir when I rustle the foliage. Even when I’m trimming, they stay on the branches as I cut and move them. I’ve had an errant honeybee land on me or a carpenter bee challenge me, but not a single sting in eight years. Hummingbirds love it too, but lately, they have to stand in line. (All images Maxxum 7D, Minolta AF 100mm f2.8 macro)
