The Emergence

The Kō for this microseason is called Insects Awaken from Hibernation. I went outside, curious to see who was stirring, and was quickly greeted by the unmistakable buzz of carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.), energetically weaving through the delicate blooms of false rosemary (Conradina canescens).

I always find the term "false" a bit frustrating when applied to plant names: false indigo, false rosemary, false this, false that. What did the original inhabitants of this land call Conradina? Did they have uses for it? I suspect they did, as so many plants have held significance to those who lived in close connection with the land. To reduce a plant’s identity to a mere imitation of something else feels unfair; it’s as though it lacks its own rightful place in the botanical world.

But back to my buzzing companions. I’m no entomologist, but I don’t believe carpenter bees hibernate in the traditional sense. Instead, they hunker down in their tunnels, nests they carve into wood, to wait out the coldest weeks. As temperatures warm, they emerge, seemingly ravenous, darting from flower to flower with urgency.

I’m sure they are grateful that Conradina flowers persist through even the coldest spells, ensuring these bees have something to sustain them upon waking. Watching them today, I felt a sense of relief. Spring is coming, the cycle continues, and these small moments; bees in bloom, warmth returning, nature’s steady rhythm; remind me that the seasons continue on.

What common name should we use for Conradina canascens instead? Let’s hear your ideas!