Pollination
posted by Kerry-Anne
Today is World Biodiversity Day, so I thought it would be fitting to show you a little more of our own biodiversity - another member of the Protea family, and a busy little bee.The focus of Biodiversity Day this year is the effect of climate change on our biological wealth - apparently two newly-extinct species of frog have already been identified as victims of climate change. It's a sobering thought that these photographs we take today may be the only way that future generations will get to see certain species.
South Africa doesn't yet have a very well-developed recycling culture (not like in Sydney, for example, where different garbage bins are provided for different types of waste), but we've started paying more attention to recycling and being less wasteful in our own household. It's difficult of course, when companies keep producing their products in "convenient" over-sized throwaway packaging. I think being mindful of your effect on the world is the first step.
P.S. Visit our friend Duncan's Engineer Simplicity blog for an informative post on energy-saving light-bulbs.
8 Comments:
I found your photo to be very good though I have no idea what it is even after I read the name.
You mentioned light bulbs. We have been using the energy savings bulbs for sometime. They are twisted around and are really nice. And they have saved us a considerable amount of money.
Abraham Lincoln
Nice one.
I think reconnecting with our environment is essential for the 21st century boy or girl...
Know where your food comes from, what happens to the water you use/waste, the impact the rubbish you throw away has on the world.
Great flower too!
Here in Grenoble and around we've started recycling our waste years ago. It's like I've always done it as far as I'm concerned.
Most flowers seem to want to hide all of their beauty. This one seems to want to world to see. Seems more than enough flower space there for a dozen more bees.
Thanks for the link KA ;)
Fabulous photo - the dense black background is so effective!!!
As with lots of your plants, Proteas grow very well in Australia and are used a lot by florists for their stunning looks and long life as cut flowers. I used to buy them regularly - they are often sold at the supermarket too, along with the more sedate daffodils, tulips and roses.
Yes recycling is a way of life in Oz - everyone is very serious about it and after the initial hiccups with it everyone accepts and promotes it. But even with recycling we do all produce way too much rubbish!!!
The awareness is slowly progressing, quicker in some countries than others. I believe that here in France, we are somewhere "in between". It was however put high on the list in the recent presidential elections and the minister now responsible for ecology is no. 2 in the newly appointed government. Let's see what comes out!
Another thought struck me after reading your comments. Our crafters have a very strong culture of using recycled materials in their products. Many of these people cannot afford raw materials, and so they simply use what is available - bottle tops, old cans, plastic bags, food labels, old bottles, etc. And the finished product is really beautiful. I'll have to post a few pictures sometime.
Thanks for all the comments! It's a conversation we need to keep having.
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