Sun Photo by Phil Gentry

It may seem a few months out of season, but there it was: a bee collecting pollen this week on a beautiful, blooming Yellow Iris at the home of Jackie and Robin Quillen on Fairview Road in Afton. Robin Quillen said that this particular Yellow Iris blooms in November every year and usually stays in bloom until the first snowfall. Ann Gaut, of Ann's GreeneHaus, said irises normally bloom in the spring, but that some plants can re-bloom. She applauded the tenacity of the bee, noting that at least five hives, including two belonging to her family, have died recently in eastern Greene County and it was good to see a bee surviving and collecting pollen.