Just bee out to check and there are several different buzzy things visiting the patch in the sun but none in the shady and windier patch by the house. I daresay they'll get there if the winds calm down.
They are an important late season source of pollen for bees ... you probably haven't seen many recently as it has been a bit cool and rainy lately. However, looks like it will be a sunny day tomorrow with 16C forecast for me ... so I'll have a look to see if any of mine visit it.
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I regularly see bumble bees visiting them along with other bees in one of my clients gardens. Hoverflies and and other small insects visit them as well. So I'd say they are a useful source of nectar for some insects although I suspect they aren't as pollen rich as other plants. The recent weather hasn't been good though it's been too cool but on warmer days I do notice the the visits.
Lovely sunny day in the north east this morning lots of bees and insects in the garden , but I have a rudbeckia in full bloom at the moment and like yourself Jo I haven't seen any bees or insects near it ?maybe it's the flat flowers.
Glorious day here today (Southern Scotland) .... the bees were out in force.
They were on the Japanese anemones ... along with many other pollinators. However it was not the busiest plant though. Far more popular were sedum, agastache, geranium 'Ann Folkard', various persicarias ..... and the ragwort in the meadow.
At the hive entrances there were lots of bees coming back looking like little white ghosts. They will have been to the himalayan balsam along the river banks.
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I've got both white and pink anemones ... and both were busy .... but then we have got 12 hives around the garden!
Not sure how the amount of nectar / pollen is measured, but we can tell some of the pollen that is stored on the frames in the hives by looking at the colours. Sometimes the frames are like little stained glass windows and are very pretty.
The balsam is a great source of late nectar for the bees, and even later is the ivy.
I found this useful list from the RHS of plants that are good for pollinators and I try to grow as many as possible.
Posts
Hi jo47,
They are an important late season source of pollen for bees ... you probably haven't seen many recently as it has been a bit cool and rainy lately. However, looks like it will be a sunny day tomorrow with 16C forecast for me ... so I'll have a look to see if any of mine visit it.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I regularly see bumble bees visiting them along with other bees in one of my clients gardens. Hoverflies and and other small insects visit them as well. So I'd say they are a useful source of nectar for some insects although I suspect they aren't as pollen rich as other plants. The recent weather hasn't been good though it's been too cool but on warmer days I do notice the the visits.
Lovely sunny day in the north east this morning lots of bees and insects in the garden , but I have a rudbeckia in full bloom at the moment and like yourself Jo I haven't seen any bees or insects near it ?maybe it's the flat flowers.
Just had a wander round to find all the insects are on the plants in the sunny sheltered places, ignoring any in shade or breeze
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hi jo47,
Glorious day here today (Southern Scotland) .... the bees were out in force.
They were on the Japanese anemones ... along with many other pollinators. However it was not the busiest plant though. Far more popular were sedum, agastache, geranium 'Ann Folkard', various persicarias ..... and the ragwort in the meadow.
At the hive entrances there were lots of bees coming back looking like little white ghosts. They will have been to the himalayan balsam along the river banks.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Very interesting Jo one consultation the slugs don't bother it either
Hi jo47,
I've got both white and pink anemones ... and both were busy .... but then we have got 12 hives around the garden!
Not sure how the amount of nectar / pollen is measured, but we can tell some of the pollen that is stored on the frames in the hives by looking at the colours. Sometimes the frames are like little stained glass windows and are very pretty.
The balsam is a great source of late nectar for the bees, and even later is the ivy.
I found this useful list from the RHS of plants that are good for pollinators and I try to grow as many as possible.
http://crocus.co.uk/plea-for-bees
That rudbeckia looks nice ... I'm trying to develop a "prairie" bank so I might give it a go.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I'm luckier with my neighbour. We have agreed that ivy needs cutting back but as it is full of blossom we will wait until the berries have been taken.