The old man was leaning forward, motionless.
He looked on in wonder as several bees swarmed around the Wisteria bush. The park had lots of flower beds scattered along the footpath. This one had a bench opposite a particularly large arrangement of colourful plants, spilling out onto the walkway. He was fascinated by the methodical way the insects went about their tasks.
As the woman approached she looked at her watch before stopping. “Excuse me, are you OK?”
He looked up. “I beg your pardon?”
She smiled, saying, “I was asking if you were all right.”
“Oh! That’s very kind of you. Yes, thank you. Quite all right.” He pointed at the bush. “I was just watching these ladies busy collecting pollen.” He gave a quick nod. “I say ladies because these bees are all female. They’re the workers you see? They’re busy collecting pollen and nectar to feed the colony. It really is amazing, you know?”
Checking the time again, she said, “Yes, I suppose it is,” smiled and went to move off.
He pointed again and asked, “Do you know why there are so many of them here, at this particular bush, I mean?”
She looked around. “No, not really.”
He sat back on the bench with his hands clasped on his lap. ‘It’s the colour, you see,” he said with a wink. “These marvellous creatures have a preference for certain colours.”
She was now shifting from foot to foot. “Really? Look, I really must go…”
“It’s the colour purple that really attracts them,” he said. “That’s why they’re buzzing around this Wisteria.”
Walking away, she said, “Thanks, that’s very interesting. Sorry, running a bit late now.”
He raised his voice. “It’s not just the colour,”
“It’s not?” she replied, still walking away.
He called out, “It’s the fragrance.”
Further away now, she said, “Really?”
“Yes, they love the smell of Wisteria,” he cried.
“The honey bees have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell, even when they’re in flight,” he shouted.
Still walking, she waved over her shoulder without looking back.
Even louder, he yelled, “They can even use their sense of smell to locate other bees!”
She probably didn’t hear him.