Ode to asters

Oh, asters, wild asters, beloved of bees. You tumble down hill and sway on the breeze.

More bumbles, more goldenrod

Here it is the end of September, and the goldenrod is still flowering, and the bumblebees are still foraging, and still crowding two or three at once on the same flowers. The bumbles seem less impatient here, taking a long sip before they move on. Such happy bees!

Fussy bumbles

The Latin name for my bumblebees is Bombus impatiens, and when they’re foraging on raspberry flowers, they really earn their name.

Bee-vouac

The cool weather seems to be confusing the squash plants. Usually the flowers are closed by noon, but this was still wide open to what little sun warmed the gray sky this afternoon. What I wanted to know is whether there were any squash bees inside.

Catmint for bees

The promised thunderstorms finally paid off. The cat even came inside and curled up by the window listening to the cooling rain. Just this afternoon, he was sitting in the middle of the catmint, noshing away, while bumblebees buzzed around him. Like these:

Swaying, buzzing goldenrod

After a cool June and a wet July, August is actually August! What a concept. Hot, muggy weather. Suddenly darkening skies that tease with the promise of a thunderstorm. And goldenrod arching up from the ground and swaying under the weight of bees and other buzzers. Goldenrod is one of the best bee plants. Sometimes […]

More fruit for squirrels to wish they could steal

Never mind the late lamented peaches. More flowers are coming, promising more fruits. The raspberries are still going steadily, and the eggplants are just beginning to flower. Since raspberries have thorns and raw eggplant is bitter, I just might get to eat some of these.

Coneflowers are buzzing

Coneflowers are buzzing. Buzzing with bumblebees. Buzzing with honeybees. Buzzing with … flies? That doesn’t even look like a syrphid fly. But you know what? There’s lots of coneflowers for everyone.

Pollinator Week

It’s National Pollinator Week. So take a pollinator to lunch this week. In their nests and in the ground Native bees are all around. Hummingbirds and bats and bees Will multiply your fruit with ease. Plant some flowers, plant a bunch, And take a pollinator to lunch! http://nativeplants.msu.edu/

Still Buzzing

Things are getting ratty looking in the garden, but the heart-leaved aster is still hosting a buzzapalooza every day. I wish I could get some pictures that conveyed just how many bees are all over. There must be a dozen bees just on one plant. Plus an Eastern carpenter bee showed up the other day. […]