Forty-four Yellow Wonder Iceland poppies on four plants were counted one May morning. The aging poppies were a brilliant yellow, the younger ones a fresh lemon color. They were never still. A slender peduncle, often two feet tall, supported each lovely flower. The slightest movement of the air set them swinging. The ajuga, armeria and heartsease were all quiet and serene, while the poppies above continually fussed.
Honeybees alighted, walked around and around collecting pollen from their numerous anthers; the pollen was abundant, at that moment the swinging was more violent. A red and black flower-bug was another visitor but its slight weight made no difference in the swaying. When a bumblebee came for its share of pollen, the pretty flower dropped over, almost touching the ground. Those burly bees are heavyweights.
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