Is that a new plant to your garden Margot? If you think it may have been treated with nasties you could remove the flowers, the next lot will probably be OK.
But bees have a short life, maybe nothing to do with the plant
I just want to let you know that for most of today the whole family have been observing the bees on the plant and what we've discovered is quite amazing... Although the one on the leaf that I posted the pic of was/is definately dead, the others came around... What we've seen is that the bees come to the flowers and gorge to the point where they drop off the plant and look dead, then about 20 mins later they come to and do it all over again until they just fly off. We've never seen this behavior before, the plant is like a drug to them. I know that monarda is used to treat certain ailments and one woman has said that it makes her very sleepy, even in small doses..
I'm just so happy they're not dying, ? and my eryngiums are just colouring up and we noticed today that the bees are already on them...How wonderful..?????????? Good to know that we have "bee bars". ???
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Gillian53 said:
I have read not to give them honey as it could possibly spread some diseases from area to area. But sugar does the trick.
Thanks for passing that on Gillian, I didn't consider that honey could carry a bee disease - obvious when you think about it.
i have revived several near to death bees by giving them sugar and water on a teaspoon. In this hot weather the bees are are lacking water
Is that a new plant to your garden Margot? If you think it may have been treated with nasties you could remove the flowers, the next lot will probably be OK.
But bees have a short life, maybe nothing to do with the plant
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hello nutcutlet, ?
Thanks for replying.
It is a new plant.
I just want to let you know that for most of today the whole family have been observing the bees on the plant and what we've discovered is quite amazing... Although the one on the leaf that I posted the pic of was/is definately dead, the others came around... What we've seen is that the bees come to the flowers and gorge to the point where they drop off the plant and look dead, then about 20 mins later they come to and do it all over again until they just fly off. We've never seen this behavior before, the plant is like a drug to them. I know that monarda is used to treat certain ailments and one woman has said that it makes her very sleepy, even in small doses..
Drunk on nectar? I've seen them rolling on their backs in eryngium flowers
In the sticks near Peterborough
I'm just so happy they're not dying, ? and my eryngiums are just colouring up and we noticed today that the bees are already on them...How wonderful..?????????? Good to know that we have "bee bars". ???