There is interesting footage tonight's Springwatch of blooms' heat emissions. Each plant gives off a different (very subtle) heat signature (as well as scent, infrared colour, pollen signature etc). Early research seems to suggest that bees (and I guess, other pollinators) can read the relative heat map. Bees seem to prefer the hottest flowers. A bloom can be up to 12oC warmer than the ambient temp, the study notes. So perhaps when you see bees or butterflies sleeping on a dahlia, they may be warming up.
So they would be choosing blooms for these reasons, as well as what else is currently on your local garden flower menu listing.
It would be interesting to find out if just-pollinated blooms get cooler.
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Yesterday was featured an osmia bee that lays eggs in old snail shells. She seals up the chambers, much as mason bees to in bamboo tubes. The bee then covers over her shell nest in a tee pee of twigs and keeps doing this through the season. (Below is a CG model).
My Aquilegia are nearly finished because so many bees have visited them. Now they are using the foxgloves and Nectaroscordum Siculum ( Mediterranean bells or sicilian honey bells) There are more than usual, mostly bumblebee orange or white bums, but also a few orange/black stripes ones. The rest are honey bees. Even though there are solitary bees in my garden I rarely see them feed.
Right now the favourite is Allium siculum, aka nectaroscordum. it must be dripping with nectar as there so many bumblebees on it. Also very good now in my garden are all the alliums, foxgloves and just beginning, scabious.
Right now the favourite is Allium siculum, aka nectaroscordum. it must be dripping with nectar as there so many bumblebees on it. Also very good now in my garden are all the alliums, foxgloves and just beginning, scabious.
Thanks Purplerallim and Redwing, that does look a lovely plant, I might have to get some of those bulbs for next year..
It is a good plant and has long interest through the summer @LeadFarmer . It starts with hanging buds, that open to the flowers. Once pollinated the flowers close and it looks like they are going back into bud, but these seed pods then rise up and it looks like lots of little castles spires.🙂
It is a good plant and has long interest through the summer @LeadFarmer . It starts with hanging buds, that open to the flowers. Once pollinated the flowers close and it looks like they are going back into bud, but these seed pods then rise up and it looks like lots of little castles spires.🙂
Yeah, it does all that, then seeds itself, giving you more.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
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I'm sure some of you on this thread know about this book, which is excellent. I can't recommend it highly enough, Gardening for Bumblebees by Dave Goulson.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardening-Bumblebees-Practical-Creating-Pollinators/dp/1529110289/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4H6HGA2BEK2H&keywords=gardening+for+bumblebees&qid=1654073750&sprefix=gardening+for+bumb,aps,75&sr=8-1
I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful