Friday, July 15, 2011

Providing continuous bloom for bees -Joe S.

In the spring, Joe S. and I chatted about providing continuous bloom for bees in his garden.  When one type of flower has finished blooming there should be other flowers just beginning to open and bloom.  Continuous bloom is an important part of managing a continuous food supply for wild bees.

When I photographed his spring blooming flowers, he mentioned that the following bloom would provide food for his summer bees including summer mason bees.

Sedum
Budlea
Italian herbs
Catony aster

Monday, July 4, 2011

More bee attractive flowers, Quadra Island, BC Canada

Aquilegia/columbine

I will ask the gardener the name of this plant.


Strawberries


Lupine

?



Crane's bill- perrenial geranium
Campanula


Batchelor button

Crane's bill



Fenced vegetable garden.  Deer, will eat anything,
so plants have to be fenced in securely.

Pyracantha
Pyracantha
Campanula

Friday, July 1, 2011

An amazing old fashioned rose, Quadra Island,BC

This beautiful and wonderfully scented rose is a mega-attractant to bees.

 A old variety that has a great capacity for nectar production.  It was quite amazing to see so many bumble bees in  one flower. It was like they were standing in line for some nectar.  Bumble bees were so busy getting into the flower they took no notice of the photographer.
This rose bush stands about 4 feet tall.

This rose is so attractive to bumble bees that at one
point there were 6 bees inside this one flower.

More bees in this rose.