Small Things - Volume II: The Pollination of Beaufort County, Part 1 | Eastern North Carolina Now

    From the Swannanoa River to the Pamlico, they have one thing in common for perpetuity - pollination. Recently, we did a short pictorial on the prospects for pollination in Buncombe County. Now we shall do another short post regarding pollination, this time along Washington's waterfront, where the Water Lilies grow an impressive blossom that feeds a host of flying, nectar loving creatures. These Creatures are not only fun to watch, but play an essential role in guaranteeing that there is just enough sex to keep life at its most fundamental sense- viable.

    Not unlike life along the Swannanoa River, life for small things along the Pamlico River is all about food, and the sex that they are not even aware of. Funny how all this works.
Washington's waterfront on a cloud draped Saturday morning in July: Above. The ships floating in that harbor: Below.     photo by Stan Deatherage     Click images to expand.
    Washington's waterfront boasts a 3/4 mile walk, a combination of masonry and plank parkway. Along the plank portion is the former Moss Planing Mill property, now developed into condos and town homes, with these copious Water Lilies that re-sustain themselves every Spring.
The Water Lilies on the waterside of the Moss Landing development at their pheromonal apex in July: Above. The closed blossom waiting to open its petals for a short time during the long days of this hot month, and then close them back again as desired: Below.     photo by Stan Deatherage     Click images to expand.
    The bees are buzzing, and the flowers are open for business, and that business is amore. It is that kind of a reproduction cycle that even the children can watch.
The bees are hungry and the blossoms are ready: Above and below.     photo by Stan Deatherage     Click images to expand.
    Notice the pollen packets on the legs of the bees. That is where the action is.
The dragonfly is poised for action, and the pod that he grapples is full of the Water Lilies' next generation: Above These many bees are loving life: Below.     photo by Stan Deatherage     Click images to expand.

They feed and feed, and they fly to feed again: Above. Just a few hundred feet from the boardwalk is the trestle, and it was an active one this Saturday: Below.     photo by Stan Deatherage     Click images to expand.