So, I can say that given the observations made by myself, my hubby and my neighbors, the bumblebees have made a HUGE comeback in #SouthernMaine this year (despite the drought)! There were very low #Bumblebee populations last year (more #CarpenterBees and #honeybees and a few smaller #NativeBees). A lot of us are #GardeningForPollnators and #GardeningWithoutChemicals , so I think that's helping!
In other news, the air quality was much better in #Maine today (still not great -- listed as "Fair" rather than "Poor" or "Unhealthy"). Anyhow, I opened up the barn window and heard lots of buzzing coming from outside. I looked down to see TONS of bumblebees (and a few other bees) going to town on the #Burdock flowers (another "weed" that I let grow this year, knowing how much the bees love it). I grabbed my camera and managed to snap a nice close-up of a bumblebee pal and a stray honeybee (maybe from a hive down the road) mostly sharing a flower (there was plenty to go around, so I didn't see much aggression between them).
#Maine #GardeningForPollinators #Rewilding #Bloomscrolling #Beescrolling #Beehuggah
More #Bloomscrolling -- I love seeing how full my #Bumblebee pals' pollen sacs are after they visit the #Goldenrod we let grow!
#GardeningForPollinators #bumblebees #Bees #Beehuggah #Maine #SolarPunkSunday
#Bloomscrolling break. And hubby wanted to remove the #MilkThistle plant near the rain barrel (we have a couple of plants). I was like, "Nope! The bees love it! It stays! Just watch out for the prickly bits."
#Bees #bumblebees #NativeBees #Beehuggah #Flowers #GardeningForPollinators #SolarPunkSunday
Thank you! For all you do!@thebeeguy
Native Plant Database - #WildHydrangea
"Mass or group in shaded area of the mixed shrub border or naturalize in native plant or woodland garden. Flowers can be used in fresh or dried arrangements.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Grow in full sun to partial shade in rich, moist soil. Tolerates deep shade. Blooms on new growth so can be cut back to the ground in early spring to control size. Remove suckers to prevent plant from spreading. A solid generalist.
"Large clusters of flat, creamy white, flowers open in June and last for many weeks. Plants bloom most of the summer. Pollen-rich flowers attract many insects. Plants form rounded mounds. Flowers can be used in fresh or dried arrangements. Grow in partial shade in rich moist soil. Tolerates deep shade.
"Part of our Pollinator Buffet plant tag series. The eastern bumble bee and other insects pollinate wild hydrangea. It is one of the most widespread and abundant bumble bees in the eastern US. Also attracts azures and hairstreaks and serves as larval host for hydrangea sphinx moth (Darapsa versicolor) and hydrangea leaf-tier moth (Olethreutes ferriferana)."
Source:
https://grownative.org/native_plants/wild-hydrangea/
#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForPollinators #NativePlants #Gardening #Bumblebees #Beehuggah
Spent some much-needed #GreenTime in the enclosed backyard space, just sitting and watching bees (well, I took some pictures with my DSLR camera as well). They are digging the patches of catnip, lemon balm and oregano -- which are all in bloom! There was one Japanese beetle sighted as well (time to set-up the traps).
#Bloomscrolling #Nature #Flowers #Herbs #Bees #Beehuggah #Maine #GardeningForPollinators #SolarPunkSunday #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime
The itty bitty bees were digging the #BlackEyedSusans, but were a little camera-shy...
#Gardening #Nature #GardeningForPollinators #Bees #BeeHuggah #Maine #Flowers
#Bumblebees along with the #Sweatbees were also digging all the flowering #Milkweed! Some of my neighbors must think I'm mad, but my next door neighbor loves it!
#Gardening #Nature #GardeningForPollinators #Bees #BeeHuggah #Maine #Flowers #NativeFlowers
DoomsdaysCW
