You know you’re obsessed with bees when you buy a Butterfly Bush (or Buddleia) because there are gigantic bees buzzing all over it. Meanwhile, there was a plant sprouting in my yard that I half-knew what it was but couldn’t quite name it, until I plunked down the storebought Buddleia.
I took one look and thought, Wait a second. The shape of that flower spike looks awfully familiar. And the color of those first few flowers. I had a volunteer Buddleia. It’s like when you’re looking for a book, and the surest way to find it is to buy another copy. Except I didn’t know I already had one.
And would the volunteer attract as many bees?
Yes! Biggest Bumblebee ever!
As an attempt to show you the scale of these buzz bombers, here’s a honeybee and a Bombus Grande sharing space on the storebought flower.
I haven’t seen a whole lot of butterflies, though. The occasional solitary monarch has flitted through, too fast for capture. The cabbage whites. And this character. None of them have come anywhere near the so-called butterfly bush.
Yet.
Update: Mr. Giant Bumble is a Eastern Carpenter bee.
Writing Every Day 
When Bill & I vacationed in Woodstock VT we stopped in a general store that had a case with honey bees working away. They entered from some outside hole and came and went as they wanted. I took a picture with my cell phone and if I ever get it unloaded I will send it out. My lemon-scented roses are blooming beautifully this August but when I lean in to smell them, I find bees resting there! I leave them alone, as you have given me a new respect for the work they do — and I wouldn’t want them to get mad, either.
Neat! I love watching display hives.
I think the bees will let you smell their roses.
Hi,
Nice captures! I have 5 butterfly bushes in my yard and get monarch’s and swallowtails all summer. The bees seem to love the bluebeard bushes best.
You can check out my blog to see my latest photos:
http://photograffix.wordpress.com/
Nice blog!
Angie
Hi Angie!
You have great shots of those monarchs. I keep seeing just this one monarch who is too crafty to show up when I have my camera handy.