Re: Are you seeing bees?

**llama momma** 7/29/2013, 4:59 pm

This summer I'm seeing the most bees in three years of sfg. They don't seem to pay attention to the petunias in the box. They are mainly around the squash, beans, borage, cukes, coriander that is now flowering, tomatoes, peppers, and watermelon. I step around them too because of clover surrounding most of the boxes this year. My husband mowed yesterday taking off much of the clover heads so I think today the bees were extra busy with the veggies. In addition to bumble bees and honey bees I'm seeing lots of what looks like black shiny bees too. Have no idea what they are.

NHGardener 7/29/2013, 5:16 pm

If you want to attract pollinators, and you live in an area where you can grow it, try a patch of buckwheat. The flowers are in my avatar, and I can't number all the different pollinators that come to visit. I believe it only puts out nectar in the mornings, so by afternoon the patch is quiet.

Marc Iverson 7/30/2013, 12:37 am

There is a movie I want to see on Amazon's freebie service that is about a fellow's year photographing his garden and the green life around his house. I'll try to find it and let you know the name. I think it might have been a Swedish guy.

Photography's a wonderful hobby, unit 649. It can be expensive! I love the creativity of ventures like yours -- finding how much beauty is close at hand. It's very spiritual.

Marc Iverson 7/30/2013, 12:41 am

llama momma, I've heard so many good things about borage. I've also heard that it's too late to start new borage this season.

For next season -- do you have any particular varieties or sources you could recommend? I'm in inland Southern Oregon, where we get zero rain in the summer (but I own a hose!), mild winters in which the snow that falls often melts off within an hour or so, and temperature variations of 30 degrees from day to night during summer and sometimes spring.

lyndeeloo 7/30/2013, 1:11 pm

Spent some time this morning communing with the pollinators.
The weather is glorious and all the little creatures are so busy today.
Took photographs of the amazing activity and thought I'd share a few.

Over a dozen Bumbles on the raspberry bushes, bumping into each other in their excitement.
Are you seeing bees? - Page 13 Img_1720

Butterflies, Honey Bees and Moths on the Butterfly Bush.
Are you seeing bees? - Page 13 Img_1812

And then this spectacular beastie... looks like a bee, flies like a hummingbird and has the body shape of a butterfly or moth. It looks like it has a feathery tail like a bird. I've never seen one before and I am fascinated by it. I watched it for half an hour before it flew away. Now I need to look it up on the internet to find out what its called.
Are you seeing bees? - Page 13 Img_1814

**llama momma** 7/30/2013, 1:59 pm

Marc Iverson wrote:llama momma, I've heard so many good things about borage. I've also heard that it's too late to start new borage this season.

For next season -- do you have any particular varieties or sources you could recommend? I'm in inland Southern Oregon, where we get zero rain in the summer (but I own a hose!), mild winters in which the snow that falls often melts off within an hour or so, and temperature variations of 30 degrees from day to night during summer and sometimes spring.

Marc
Borage is one of the few packets of seed I purchased and was packaged locally.
Livingston Seed Co., 830 Kinnear Rd. Columbus, Ohio 43212
I couldn't tell you what grows well in your area, you could contact the seed co. and ask.

**donnainzone5** 7/30/2013, 2:27 pm

Marc,

I recently purchased borage seeds from a local nursery. They were from Botanical Interests.

Please note that borage self-seeds, and once it does so, you'll have numerous seedlings. At first, they resemble cucumber sprouts.

CapeCoddess 7/30/2013, 2:55 pm

Cimicifuga is very attractive to bees also.[b style="font-size.2em"]

lyndeeloo, your photos are absolutely beautiful! I believe the mystery critter is a hummingbird moth, but I could be wrong. We have them in our yard, too.

(don't know why the font is changing...)

Does anyone know if baking soda spray for PM is harmful to bees? I was spritzing the squash & cucs this morning and one flew right through the spray. Sad

I'm hoping he's OK...

CC[/b]

**sanderson** 7/30/2013, 4:10 pm

Outstanding photos! cheers

southern gardener 7/30/2013, 5:08 pm

wow...those pics are AMAZING! thanks for sharing!! Are you seeing bees? - Page 13 3170584802

unit649 7/30/2013, 5:57 pm

lyndeeloo,
I love your pictures, especially the butterfly.
Madge

Goosegirl 7/30/2013, 6:19 pm

Definitely a hummingbird moth in the mix. Great pics!

Starting to see lots of mason bees in my yard. I love those big black fuzzy masons!

GG

**camprn** 7/30/2013, 9:26 pm

lyndeeloo wrote:

And then this spectacular beastie... looks like a bee, flies like a hummingbird and has the body shape of a butterfly or moth. It looks like it has a feathery tail like a bird. I've never seen one before and I am fascinated by it. I watched it for half an hour before it flew away. Now I need to look it up on the internet to find out what its called.

Sphinx Moth Aren't they beautiful? Very Happy

TxGramma 7/31/2013, 11:16 am

lyndeeloo wrote:

To be even more specific...a hummingbird moth...member of the same family as Sphinx moth and hawk moths...he is a clearwing hummingbird moth and because of his black mask on his face he is.....a Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth.

Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth

Snowberry Clearwing Hemaris diffinis

Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing!

CapeCoddess 7/31/2013, 11:18 am

Camp, this line from your link above was rather disturbing:

"commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths, and hornworms..."

Are they talking about THE hornworm? Is this beautiful moth where they come from???

CC

**camprn** 7/31/2013, 11:29 am

CapeCoddess wrote:Camp, this line from your link above was rather disturbing:

"commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths, and hornworms..."

Are they talking about THE hornworm? Is this beautiful moth where they come from???

CC

Yes CC. This is why I am so conflicted about dispatching hornworms. I on't like to kill them, but prefer to move them from my garden. Typically pitch them over the fence to the neighbor. He has no garden. If they have wasp eggs on then, I make sure those worms live to feed the next generation of wasps.

All God's critters got a place in the choir.

CapeCoddess 7/31/2013, 11:39 am

"Camprn wrote: Typically pitch them over the fence to the neighbor. He has no garden."

Oh, I know that trick. Twisted Evil

I can do that.

Are bees OK if they fly thru a baking soda spray when spritzing for PM? Or if the liquid gets on the flower and they then land on it and start foraging?

CC

**camprn** 7/31/2013, 11:46 am

They are probably going to be ok, but try spraying when the bees are not as active, in the early morning or evening.

FamilyGardening 7/31/2013, 9:12 pm

we have so many bee's this year.....our daughter even step on one yesterday and got stung....we tried hard to plant flowers and herbs that would bring them to the garden and boy or boy they are here Are you seeing bees? - Page 13 2636062189

Are you seeing bees? - Page 13 2636062189

today hubby took video and pictures of a bee going crazy on a sunflower.....he was covered head to toe with pollen Smile

a picture our daughter took...plant Borage if you want more bees we have at least 25 or more bees on this herb at all times.... Shocked

happy gardening
rose

**sanderson** 7/31/2013, 9:47 pm

Shallow Sanderson, here. Borage is so pretty I would grow it for its looks. If borage will grow in a large pot, it will be in my backyard next year! There just aren't many honey bees in my back yard, except for an occasional one on a rose. :-(

Marc Iverson 8/1/2013, 2:14 am

I agree, Sanderson. That borage is beautiful! Next year, for sure. Then I'll have three flowers in the blue/purple range -- veronica, English lavender, and borage. I will be hoping for many many bees!

**sanderson** 8/1/2013, 3:39 am

Marc, I loved the 2-tone purple snow pea flowers this spring-early summer, and the July purple flowers of my eggplant. The Mexican sage will soon bloom purple stalks of flowers and the hummingbirds love them. Lavender, rosemary and purple Iris. I agree that blue/purple looks good against the green of plants. So cool "feeling." I'll have to reconsider the Veronica. I know it was in a recent topic.

**camprn** 8/1/2013, 8:02 am

The globe thistle is just coming into bloom here and the bees love that as well.

Are you seeing bees? - Page 13 Bees%20on%20globe%20thistle

**llama momma** 8/1/2013, 8:23 am

Rose
Your borage is so lush! Really Nice looking stuff.
Mine have large pretty flower clusters yet the leaves are pale. I'm at a loss because I believe the compost is very rich. Just about 98% of the other garden plants are very dark green. Maybe borage requires more or less watering. The bees seem to love it anyway and are all over it.

Marc Iverson 8/1/2013, 3:59 pm

Sanderson, the veronica has a nice dark green leaf setting off the flowers, which is very pretty and lush/healthy looking. And the bees were all over it at the nursery. I got some that were smaller and not blooming yet (cheaper!), and hope they will encourage the bees to hang around here a lot too.

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