The bees, eggs and honey of the hive during the split

Sitting with Auntie Fran in Peace Park

Native Stingless Bee Hive before the split

These photos are by Jessica Perinia, photographer of nature and editor of my books.

Last Sunday Auntie Fran Bodkin and I sat under a tree in Peace Park, Chippendale with about 30 others to talk about our beautiful country and to hear Fran speak of it.  We were privileged to hear Fran talk about the ants of Sydney’s plain and how they support plant, tree and other life.

To sit in the shade as the western sun shone straight down Myrtle Street, and to drink cordial made from the lemon tea tree and lemon grass of our road gardens made with pizzaz by Stef and the crew at Cafe Guilia was a gift.  More gifts were had from the tempura zuchini flowers cooked as a surprise by the loveliest human tree, Stefan, and by the person who is nature herself, Vera – what a treat.

After the conversation in the park we went to the backyard and split the hive with one hive to stay and the other to go to Dulwich Hill where Judy and Al will care for the new life the little critters will bring there.