pollinators.

July 9, 2013
bumblebee in veronica

bumblebee in catmint by james casey

butterfly in catmint by james casey

butterfly in catmint by james casey

butterfly in catmint by james casey

butterfly in catmint by james casey

We have family friends that refer to James as Turtle Boy. Seven summers ago when I returned to my hometown after a summer spent working falling in love on Jekyll Island, Georgia, I made an entire roomful of people watch a slideshow of images I’d snapped over the summer. There was so much to share: live oaks dripping in spanish moss, the Rockefeller mansion I’d been helping to restore, the baby sea turtles James was busy saving. But mostly there were pictures of James and those blue eyes. It’s mortifying to think about subjecting my family and friends to my personal ode to summer love, but I’ll chalk it up to being 22 and head over heels.

James isn’t doing work with sea turtles at the moment, and in the lab where he works now he’s recently turned his attention to honey bees. In a change that echoes the changing size of our apartments, he’s swapped charismatic megafauna for charismatic microfauna.

I’m usually too busy hogging the camera for James to get a chance to take any snaps, but this past weekend there was the sea and sand to distract me, so James had a chance to get up close and personal with his new favorite subject: pollinators.

I dare you not to coo at these fuzzy bees and butterflies.

Photos by James Casey.

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18 Comments

  • Reply pretty little things July 9, 2013 at 1:14 pm

    gorgeous photos! they really capture the beauty of nature all around us! xo

    http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/

    1
  • Reply ambika July 9, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    Nice pics!

    http://colorsandthreads.blogspot.in/

    1
  • Reply JC Carter July 9, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    Is it wierd to tell you that my love spent his summers at college studying snapping turtles in Upstate NY? We must have good taste!

    1
    • Reply Erin July 10, 2013 at 12:04 pm

      Turtle boys!

      1
  • Reply Pat July 9, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Just lovely!

    1
  • Reply Amy Guest July 9, 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Such beautiful photos!
    http://www.rosesjaunes.blogspot.co.uk

    1
  • Reply lusciousgreenbalcony July 9, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    gorgeous pictures! I love pollinators and know how hard it is to get sharp pictures of them. great job!
    http://lusciousgreenbalcony.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/whats-growing-on-my-balcony/

    1
    • Reply Erin July 10, 2013 at 12:03 pm

      Passing along the kudos to James!

      1
  • Reply Jennifer July 9, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    What beautiful photos! I recently took a trip to a nearby lavender farm and got to see these pollinators at work. They're such amazing little insects!

    1
    • Reply Erin July 10, 2013 at 12:03 pm

      Sounds like a lovely place to visit!

      1
  • Reply Lexie July 9, 2013 at 6:14 pm

    Have you ever written about your love story with James! I've put together bits and pieces, but it might be a fun, sweet story to share one day! šŸ˜‰

    1
    • Reply Erin July 10, 2013 at 12:03 pm

      On the to-do list!

      1
  • Reply Alexa July 9, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    sweet story about your summer love šŸ™‚ i've wondered how you two met. thank you for sharing!

    1
  • Reply Raquelita July 10, 2013 at 12:09 am

    I love your posts. They are both whimsical and thoughtful all at the same time. I'd love to hear James' thoughts on colony collapse disorder (in layman's terms, of course!) What fascinating work. Thank you for sharing glimpses of your life with us!

    1
    • Reply Erin July 10, 2013 at 12:03 pm

      Oh goodness! Yes, fascinating. Much of the work in the lab is focusing on determining bees' susceptibility to bacterial infections via feeding and drinking…much to learn!

      1
  • Reply Gina July 10, 2013 at 1:46 am

    I love these photos! I am a beekeeper on St. Simons Island right next door the Jekyll. I also love the dreamy moss and oak trees that fill these islands…

    http://www.hellotherehome.com

    1
    • Reply Erin July 10, 2013 at 11:53 am

      Oh my goodness! So many happy memories of that place! Hoping we can get back soon.

      1
  • Reply Marjory July 22, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    Beautiful photos. So much beauty in nature. Thanks for celebrating Her. I am writing a post on the importance of protecting bees and would love to include one of your pics. Cheers! šŸ™‚
    http://www.marjorymejia.com

    1
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