At the Jarrard's pre-preschool program, we have been "studying" apples this fall. This culminated in our apple orchard "field trip" today. Being that I've never been to an orchard, I dressed us with comfort in mind. I also considered the fact that trees are located outdoors and are likely to be dirty. So shorts and flip flops for me, jeans and Crocs for Asher. We get to the orchard and the lady tells me, "Oh, and be careful with your feet, because of the flip flops. The bees are really well fed so they are generally okay, just make sure you don't step on them." Okay, alarms should have been going off in my head, but I was so focused on getting to the fun that I didn't notice them.
We load Asher and the basket into the wagon and head down to the trees. We passed an apiary so I thought, oh, there are the bees. Not so much, we get to the trees and there are bees EVERYWHERE. Bumble bees, honey bees, Japanese hornets (of which I will include a picture for those who are curious), and yellow jackets. When the apples fall to the ground and begin to rot, it is like a sugar fest and all the bees come out for the good time.
So I am instantly paranoid. For those who know me, you know that I am not in the least fond of insects, particularly ones that have the power to hurt you, and in my case, will leave the affected body part swollen for days. Asher jumps out of the wagon and runs to pick up the apples lying on the group. I scream at the top of my lungs, "Don't touch, the bees will sting!" Luckily, I guess, he was just stung this week, so he was aware of the pain they would cause. Not aware enough to make him stop completely, but aware enough that he was not his usual wild-child self.
Finally, I stuck him back in the wagon, gave him an apple to eat, and concentrated on the task at hand, filling my basket as quickly as possible without getting stung. I was making good progress when I hear this little voice saying, "Mommy hab-it." I turn around and he's handing me the stem. He had eaten the whole apple, seeds and core included! I tried to get him to pick some apples, but he's scared of leaves so that made it very challenging to say the least.
Trying to crawl out of the wagon on the way down.
Contemplating the bee situation.
A few of our enemies on a rotten apple.
Pulling the wagon paying absolutely no attention to where he's stepping.
Back in the wagon to avoid being stung, apple #2.
Doesn't it look like he's just hanging out, enjoying his apple? He's actually trying to get down, I just caught him at the right moment. Oh, and eating apple #3.
The apiary.
The love of his life, a tractor.
Japenese hornet (not taken by me, from the internet).
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