Bees do show strong preferences for plant types. It's not just a matter of "whatever gets you through the day". They will fly further an use more precious energy to reach a patch of the blooms they desire most. Studies show that native planting attract a wider diversity of wildlife than non natives. Some bees and many butterflies and moths have plant specialisms.
Forgetmenots are one of the plants currently flowering that confer the greatest benefit.
At the moment they seem to be mostly going for the forget-me-nots that are just starting to open in the sunnier spots. Just the common self-sowing ones, nothing fancy. A few weeks ago it was crocuses but they're over now.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Here's a useful website to assist choosing plants for bumble bees. Click on the 'Planing Recommendation' tab at the top left, then click on a species of bee on the left, it will bring up details of plants suitable for that bee..
At the moment here it's prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-Mai'. The blossom has been fully out for at least two weeks and as the tree is now a good eleven feet tall there is plenty of it and the branches are humming with bees.
Those tiny specimens in the garden centres hold so much promise.
In Jan and Feb it was the mahonia, then the snowdrops and the chimonanthes followed by hellebores, daffodils and primulas. The apricot and pear trees managed to blossom before the frosts and had plenty of bees. Right now there are bees of several species buzzing all over the south facing wisteria and in a few days they'll be in the east facing one which is a week or so behind.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
fgmn is such an important flowering plant from bees in March/April/May, before much else is out. Masons emerge in April often and need to get feeding right away. If you have bee nesting boxes, it's good to have some planted right near by.
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Click on the 'Planing Recommendation' tab at the top left, then click on a species of bee on the left, it will bring up details of plants suitable for that bee..
https://plantingforpollinators.org/pfp/index.php?r=user/auth
Those tiny specimens in the garden centres hold so much promise.