Comments on: Confused like a bee… http://www.athomeintuscany.org/2009/05/16/confused-like-a-bee/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:52:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: gloria http://www.athomeintuscany.org/2009/05/16/confused-like-a-bee/#comment-24 gloria Tue, 19 May 2009 21:38:54 +0000 http://www.athomeintuscany.org/?p=179#comment-24 I have just seen a <strong>firefly</strong> in our garden in Pisa... that is really weird, because they should not be around before late June/July. <em>I am not saying that it is not a good thing.</em> I remember when I was a kid and I used to go out with my great-grandmother at night to catch them. She made me put them <strong>under a glass</strong> and in the morning I would find some coins instead of the little (poor) animals! In my village there is this road, known as "<em>dietro le mura</em>", literally "behind the village walls", which had no street lights then: it was amazing. It was <strong>packed with fireflies</strong>. It was like walking in star dust, whatever that is! Then, for years, <strong>they had essentially disappeared</strong>, because of pesticides, they said. Last year to my great surprise, I saw plenty both in our garden in Pisa and in Civitella. But <strong>never so early</strong>. Nature is going crazy. At last all the genistas are in full bloom around Pisa. I have just seen a firefly in our garden in Pisa… that is really weird, because they should not be around before late June/July.

I am not saying that it is not a good thing. I remember when I was a kid and I used to go out with my great-grandmother at night to catch them. She made me put them under a glass and in the morning I would find some coins instead of the little (poor) animals!

In my village there is this road, known as “dietro le mura“, literally “behind the village walls”, which had no street lights then: it was amazing. It was packed with fireflies. It was like walking in star dust, whatever that is! Then, for years, they had essentially disappeared, because of pesticides, they said.

Last year to my great surprise, I saw plenty both in our garden in Pisa and in Civitella. But never so early.

Nature is going crazy. At last all the genistas are in full bloom around Pisa.

]]> By: diana baur http://www.athomeintuscany.org/2009/05/16/confused-like-a-bee/#comment-18 diana baur Sat, 16 May 2009 18:53:58 +0000 http://www.athomeintuscany.org/?p=179#comment-18 Gloria, one of the most beautiful parts of living in Europe is the way life paces itself with the seasons. Your examples are ones which I also sense myself. We have a bee keeping farm next door, and I can tell the day the almond blossoms open because they come over in droves. I have never been stung -- the bees are so happy to get to the flowers. Also the appearance of asparagus -- of new potatoes -- all the things which nature provides us with the right vitamins at the right times... it is all part of the rythym. This year is sooo off...the farmers are freaking out completely... Gloria, one of the most beautiful parts of living in Europe is the way life paces itself with the seasons. Your examples are ones which I also sense myself. We have a bee keeping farm next door, and I can tell the day the almond blossoms open because they come over in droves. I have never been stung — the bees are so happy to get to the flowers. Also the appearance of asparagus — of new potatoes — all the things which nature provides us with the right vitamins at the right times… it is all part of the rythym.

This year is sooo off…the farmers are freaking out completely…

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