Thumbs up for the willow tree
When the wind in the willows is spring-like, the sun shining, and the blackbird singing, it is time for one of spring's most life-affirming phenomena. All it requires is a blossoming willow tree - one that blooms with large juicy-yellow bunches. There are many of these in the city. You just stand below the tree and listen. And hear how summer is buzzing all around the city. Not just from one or two bumblebees, but from dozens of bees, flies, butterflies and various creatures.
We have often waited for a long time. For several months over the winter, the willows stood with its silvery catkins, and not until March or April was it warm enough for the catkins to transform into bright yellow flowers. It has been a long wait. Flowering willow trees entail a flow of insects, as they are a cornucopia of pollen and nectar at a time where there is otherwise not many bright spots for hungry insects.
The most striking insects in the willows are beyond doubt the queens of bumblebees. These giants of the air have overwintered as adults, and they emerge because they need to establish homes in mouse holes or other underground settings. Although the weather is cold, the bumblebees usually have no trouble keeping warm – as long as the sun is shining. Before their flights, the bumblebees warm up by shaking their muscles quickly. This releases heat to the body. The bumblebee’s dense fur helps to stay warm, and the black colour absorbs heat so that the bumblebee can stay active when others cannot. When prowling around among the willow trees, you will notice that there are several different bumblebees. Some have a red backside – they are lapidary bees - while others are black-white-yellow-striped – these are called white-tailed bumblebees, and there are various sub-species of this one.
Finally, we must not forget the butterflies that always enthuses their watchers. In the city, we usually meet the national butterfly called small tortoiseshell, which has emerged after a winter in the shed or the attic, but if we are lucky, we will also spot a lemon butterfly in the willow tree. It fits well into its surroundings. We actually do not know where the lemon butterfly winters, but it is probably in dense conifers, perhaps in the cemetery or in a garden. When you see it sitting and slurping nectar, it means that spring has finally come.