While many people in northern climates are still bracing for late winter snows and storms, down here in the south spring is well underway. It started off with a bang as the redbuds (Cercis canadensis) and Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) flowers all began to bloom at once. Both have gone by now, but the redbuds have always been one of my favorites. I love their color and the shape of the flowers, but I’m also intrigued by how the flowers just seem to pop out of the trunk and branches of the trees. And in order for these early flowering plants to survive, there has to be something to pollinate them at a time when many of the common pollinators are still dormant. Fortunately, we have the beautiful blueberry bees (Habropoda laboriosa) and the always active western honey bees (Apis mellifera). Blueberry bees are solitary bees that live the majority of their lives in their nests, but they are out and about early every spring pollinating the redbuds, azaleas, and yes, blueberry bushes. Honey bees are communal bees that are active all year round. These images are obviously from earlier this spring, but they feature one of my favorite flowers and one of my favorite insects, bees, so they were just crying out to be shared.