Two native bumble bees were working on the catmint. Does anyone know what kind?
They don’t do in-air refueling, like the Sphinx moth. Instead of a long proboscis and fast wings, they land
and hang from the blossoms as they stick their head right into the flowers.
They climb all over the flower spike, and put their heads deep into places that a lot of other pollinators have already been before. They’re really working these flowers, who frankly look a little tired.
And here’s a photo so beautiful it leaves me without words.
Hope you have a nice Friday!
Your photos are magnificent!
Have a great weekend.
I am really hooked on reading your blog and learning so much.
Thanks!
Hey, we have those monsters, too! The poor bees this year have absolutely NOTHING to feed on around here yet. (our spring was super slow and cold this year, so we’re actually about a month behind. The trees are only just NOW starting to turn green! And there are no flowers to speak of. Even the dandelions only emerged in the last week.) Normally by now our two plum trees are big white pouffs of blossoms and there are about a bazillion bees and wasps working them over. Ha. Not so, this year. The trees have barely developed buds yet. So the bees will have to wait another three weeks or so.
Can you elaborate on “catmint” flowers? Is it a garden flower or a weed? I’m not familiar with it (lived on west coast, midwest, mostly) and was wondering. Is it any relation to the catnip that my kitties love? Or is it something else?
Your photos are stunning. It is wonderful to open your blog each morning and have a wondow into your environment. Thank you for sharing.
Shirley, I think it’s the same as catnip, called catmint here. It’s a Nepeta, but I don’t know which kind. Deer won’t eat them. Alice
That bumblebee is the handsomest bee I’ve ever seen. He’s absolutely rolling around that flower to get every last bit of pollen.
mum-bear