Daily Archives: February 13, 2011
This is one of my favorite flowers! Dandelions are a welcome color in the spring and they are a great source of both nectar and pollen for bees and other insects.
Most gardeners believe dandelion flowers are a nuisance weed and therefore it has to be removed from their green lawn.
If a gardener provides lots of flowers, more bees are in the garden and it generally means better pollination for fruit trees.
If a gardener provides lots of flowers, more bees are in the garden and it generally means better pollination for fruit trees.
 |
| This honey bee (left hand side) and mason bee are too busy feeding on a dandelion flower to notice the photographer Dave M. Port Alberni, BC. |
Kathy- Langley, BC sent me these photos of a bumble bees nesting in a bird house last spring.
This is not an uncommon occurrance. Bumble bees will nest in the ground, in a wall, in a bird house or other structure that will keep the weather out. Bumble bees nest within insulation, grass or other similar materials.
Birds bring nesting materials like moss and grasses into their bird house and leave after their young have hatched.
“When you see them up close they have an incredible amount of pollen on their back legs. The opening into the bird house is 1 1/4″ so you can see how huge they are.”
Underneath the moss is a bumble bee colony. One bumble bee guard is walking on the surface of the colony.
 |
| This is a guard- watching out for predators. |
 |
| Bumble bee on the left is cooling the colony with its wings. The bumble bee on the right seems to be ready to go and gather more pollen and nectar for the young bees. |
 |
| Coming in for landing. |
 |
| Resting after a long flight. |
 |
| Making room for a larger colony by removing excess moss material. |
