I had fun watching the antics of a bumble bee the other day.
There is a long raised bed extending almost the whole length of my back yard. It is planted mostly with roses, but there are many summer blooming companion plants as well.
The bumble bee started at one end of the bed and checked all the plants methodically until it reached the other end of the bed.
Then it turned around and went right back to the same flowers in reverse order. Then it turned around and started again. And again. And again.
I have read that bumble bees like returning to the same flowers, a phenomenon called "flower constancy". However, it did make me wonder how much nectar it was getting on its third or fourth try.
Soon, I grew tired of swiveling my head back and forth and started taking pictures of some flowers instead. Much less noisy :)
There is a long raised bed extending almost the whole length of my back yard. It is planted mostly with roses, but there are many summer blooming companion plants as well.
The bumble bee started at one end of the bed and checked all the plants methodically until it reached the other end of the bed.
Then it turned around and went right back to the same flowers in reverse order. Then it turned around and started again. And again. And again.
I have read that bumble bees like returning to the same flowers, a phenomenon called "flower constancy". However, it did make me wonder how much nectar it was getting on its third or fourth try.
Soon, I grew tired of swiveling my head back and forth and started taking pictures of some flowers instead. Much less noisy :)
 |
| Lemon Leigh lavender and Million Bells |
 |
| More Million Bells |
 |
| Cynthia Brooke. Not too many petals in the heat, but the color is wonderful |
Ale się biedny trzmiel nalatał, a Ty za nim :-). Przy okazji jednak zobaczyłam jak masz pięknie kolorowo w ogrodzie. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
ReplyDeleteBut the bumblebee nalatał poor, and you for him :-). By the way, but as you saw the beautiful color in the garden. Best regards.
Love your busy bee. Really nice closeups. It that a double yellow Million Bells? I never saw them before and they are really pretty.
ReplyDeleteGiga, thank you.
ReplyDeleteDonna, yes, it is. This is the first year I tried a double and it is not growing as fast as the single varieties, I am afraid :(
I love the second shot of the bee in flight! And the composition of the last one as well. Cynthia Brook does have wonderful color. It reminds me of Sutter's Gold.
ReplyDeleteI love bumbles! They're such workers. At the evening I come in my greenhouse and bumbles are still collecting honey. Cynthia Brooke is a wonderful color!
ReplyDeleteI would do the same like the bumblebee :) So many colours in your garden ... Thank you for those lovely shots, Masha !
ReplyDeleteHi Masha, I didn't know that bumblebees are that methodical when it comes to the decision which flowers to visit! It is great that you have such a variety of blooms to offer to the pollinators. Each time when I look at your blog I think I have to plant more companion plants, too. Well I am working on it! Great photos as usual!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Your bumble bee photos are fabulous. I had no idea a bee would visit a flower so many times. I would have though they would get all the pollen off the first visit! I think that last photo is my favorite. Such cheerful colors, and sweet blooms.
ReplyDeleteI never knew bees would remember flowers and know which places to come back to. But it makes sense. It's a survival skill. If I were a bee, I'd visit your yard a lot, too! Love your bacopa and million bells combo. :o)
ReplyDeleteI like your pictures! The flowers're beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see that you have pollinators. The bumblebees have been buzzing around my flowers, too. The photo of the Cynthia Brooke rose is stunning.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers, fantastic colours. I am greeting
ReplyDeleteI love your images of the bumblebee. Such superb photography. I have pics of bumblebee too which I intend to post later. However the bumblebee that I shot is different form yours. Mine is jet black and bigger. I also noted that they have this peculiar behaviour which I termed obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) which could be the equivalent of your "flower constancy".
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo's masha. So sharp!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great sunday
Wonderful Blog. What is the pink stripey Penstemon in the second photo? Or is it a snapdragon? It is very pretty.
ReplyDeleteAnnabeth
Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnnabeth, it is called "Ice Cream Strawberry and Cream". Very showy.