Dahlia Festival: A Bee’s Paradise
Each year, the quays of Morges burst into bloom with thousands of dahlias in all heights, shapes, and colors. It was in 1996 that local florist Ernest Lüthi initiated the idea of showcasing dahlias within the city from July to October.
Nikon Z9, Sigma 150mm 1:2.8 APO Macro DG HSM, 1/640 at f / 4.0, ISO 64, 150mm
Such a dense concentration of flowers creates an ideal habitat for observing various insects, particularly bees. In fact, Canton Vaud, where Morges is located, is among the regions with the highest number of beehives in Switzerland. Along with Bern, Zurich, Aargau, St. Gallen, Ticino, and Lucerne, it accounts for over 60% of the country's bee population. Although the bee population experienced a steady decline following World War II, a change of mentality together with effective actions lead to a stabilisation of the number of beehives over the past decade. This is encouraging news, as bees play a crucial role in up keeping our biodiversity by pollinating many crops and wild plants.
Beyond domesticated honey bees, this is also the perfect opportunity to discover some of the numerous species of wild bees. Switzerland alone is home to over 600 different wild bee species! The best part is that they can be observed safely, as they don't sting.
Nikon Z9, Sigma 150mm 1:2.8 APO Macro DG HSM, 1/1000 at f / 4.0, ISO 100, 150mm
Capturing action shots is no easy task, as they demand both preparation and a bit of luck. Fortunately, I managed to snap a shot of a bee taking off from a dahlia, where the motion of its wings is clearly visible. The tall dahlias also offer unique angles to observe the bees at work.
Nikon Z9, Sigma 150mm 1:2.8 APO Macro DG HSM, 1/320 at f / 4.2, ISO 64, 150mm