The bees have been loving the aquilegias, foxglove, geraniums and salvia hot lips and lupins. Now the roses are coming out they are attracted to them as well, and the campanula and Aaron’s beard (?) - a lovely yellow flowering shrub, along with the French lavender. It’s been mostly bumble bees, but I have seen the occasional honey bee. The lilies will be in bloom soon, so I’m sure they will be drawn to them, too.
At the moment they are mostly on the knautia, linaria, foxgloves and and opium poppies (the singles). They don't seem too bothered about the salvias and geraniums.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Geraniums all the way in my garden. Sadly my main bush has stopped flowering but when in flower there is a always a respectable showing of several Bee species. There's a Tree Bumblebee colony in my garage about 15 feet away and all they seem to feed on is the neighbours extensive Cotoneaster. Luv Dave
Its very close between the foxgloves and the alstromeria's at the moment and verbena bonariensis is just about to come out so they will be switching to that shortly....
My small patch of phacelia tanacetifolia have just burst in to flower today, so I'll be keeping a keen eye on how popular it is. The flowers are stunning little things.
I have! They have been a real bonus, though the description of miniature wasn’t very apt. They are in a newly planted front garden and have been admired by many passers by. Next year I would even be happy to pay for them.
Your Geranium is full of flower @Lyn how do you have so many flowers - mine is mostly leaves with just a few flowers peeping over the leaves. Phacelia is full of bees here too, although the flowers have been in full bloom for a few weeks now. A bee keeper told us it was one of the top plants for bees and I can honestly say I agree with him @ForTheBees .
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There's a Tree Bumblebee colony in my garage about 15 feet away and all they seem to feed on is the neighbours extensive Cotoneaster.
Luv Dave