Home of the Practically Perfect Pink Phlox and other native plants for pollinators

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Dear Gardening Friends,

Honeybees refuse to pose for photos
I wish you had been with me in the garden on Monday afternoon.  It was a lovely warm fall day and the ex-asters were dancing in the breeze, while honeybees flew from flower to flower in their mad dash to gather as much pollen as possible before the cold weather arrived.


 At this time of year the garden is a sea of blue asters that attract every pollinator you can imagine~Bumbles, Flower Flies, Green Metallic Bees, wasps, skippers and butterflies. But, this year the honeybees have outnumbered all the other visitors.


I love the Bumbles and other native bees that live in my garden, but, seeing the honeybees in such large numbers made my heart soar with joy.


Could it be that these bees belong to the young family with bee hives, chickens and a great big garden who live  a few streets over? It's exciting to think that clay and limestone's flowers are  contributing to their  honey supplies.


Maybe I should drop them a post card~






They might like that, I know I would.
xxoogail


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27 comments:

  1. FairegardenOctober 19, 2011 at 5:42 AM

    How wonderful, dear Gail. This is a perfect match, your young neighbors with the hive and your practically perfect pesticide free garden flowers. All good.
    xxxooo
    Frances

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  2. Dee/reddirtramblingsOctober 19, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    I think you should definitely drop them a note. I think you should go meet them. I would. How fun.~~Dee

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  3. JeffOctober 19, 2011 at 7:06 AM

    Hi Gail! Very nice pictures. I am new to the world of habitat gardening and have never heard the term "ex-aster". What means?

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  4. GailOctober 19, 2011 at 7:15 AM

    jeff, The genus Aster is now generally restricted to the Old World species and our asters are now in the genus Symphyotrichum. So I refer to them as ex-asters. Welcome to habitat gardening and Clay and Limestone! gail

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  5. Julie StoneOctober 19, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    Thanks for sharing! I, too, love all my little bee friends and feel such a sense of happiness in my heart when I see them in my gardens. It will be a long winter without them to keep me company out there.

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  6. growingagardenindavisOctober 19, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    What a great service you are doing, providing that wonderful buffet for all those pollinators, wherever they come from.

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  7. BarbarapcOctober 19, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Gail, you are the Queen Bee Photographer. Sometimes I wonder how they'd respond after being pursued as a photo-subject around the garden. Do you suppose they ever have those moments of doubt when with their heads deep within a blossom, they think..."I wonder if all that pollen makes my legs look fat?"

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  8. Janet, The Queen of SeafordOctober 19, 2011 at 9:51 AM

    Your bee photos are far superior to any I have attempted to get. You must be the bee whisperer.
    :-) Love seeing the activity on the blooms.

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  9. Lisa at GreenbowOctober 19, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Oh Barb you are funny. Gail, I think you should get to know your neighbors just in case they have an extra jar of honey. ;)

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  10. UrsulaVOctober 19, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Honeybees moved into our yard this year after a several year absence, and they're all over the pond drinking. I assume somebody must have put in a beehive nearby, and if I knew who it was, I'd come over and thank them--those little guys are part of the reason I had veggies!

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  11. DarlaOctober 19, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Beautiful photos Gail. By all means go meet the wonderful Bee Keepers!

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  12. MeemsOctober 19, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    So wonderful, Gail... the bees, the flowers, the colors, the beauty of autumn!

    Yes, by all means... you are part of a 'bee co-op' and those bee keepers would love to know their bees are safe in the neighborhood at C & L. So fun!

    Meems (my climbing native Aster carolinianus is about to burst into a riot of flowers)

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  13. PatsiOctober 19, 2011 at 12:41 PM

    Happy garden. Happy bees.

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  14. The Sage ButterflyOctober 19, 2011 at 12:58 PM

    Would you include me and my garden in your note posting? I would like to convey that message as well. They are very welcome to come any time.

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  15. Diana StuderOctober 19, 2011 at 3:02 PM

    I could imagine they might be glad to see your garden. (Come and have lunch with your bees ;~) Always interesting to be invited into your neighbour's garden, if it appeals to the eye and heart because you can see another wildlife gardener lives there.

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  16. greggoOctober 19, 2011 at 8:29 PM

    bee kind!

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  17. Curbstone Valley FarmOctober 19, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    This beekeeper sooo wishes she lived closer, then my bees could come to visit your gorgeous garden! :)

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  18. hobetzOctober 20, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    beautiful photosd

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  19. RoseOctober 20, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    I'm sure your neighbors would be thrilled to know they have such a bee-friendly neighbor nearby!

    I was busy much of Monday in the garden, too, and noticed more honeybees than usual. Definitely a good sign. I'm glad I was out there Monday, because the past few days have been miserably cold and windy. I hope the honeybees found a warm refuge or brought their rain slickers:)

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  20. LolaOctober 20, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    I agree. Go meet the bee keeper. Love those Bumbles. I'm so glad you have the "proper" diet for the bees. They are not that plentiful I hear.

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  21. Dig, Grow, Compost, BlogOctober 21, 2011 at 9:05 AM

    Love your asters/ex-asters Gail. I noticed a ton of honeybees at my wild arugula lately. I keep wondering what honey from those bees must taste like - maybe bittersweet? ;-)

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  22. garden girlOctober 21, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    How wonderful having bee keepers in the neighborhood Gail! I'd definitely drop them a card, and/or as others have suggested, go over and meet them.

    Your ex-asters are lovely and it's plain to see the pollinators think so too. Have a fantastic weekend!

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  23. Casa MariposaOctober 21, 2011 at 3:53 PM

    I bet your neighbors actually would love a card! I still have bees in my agastache, too.

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  24. F CameronOctober 23, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    You should definitely attach that note to the honey bees to take back to their hives!

    xo
    Freda

    PS
    I can't believe how quickly time passes these days! Writing...destination wedding...sick now....oh well...blogging seems to be last on my list these days, but I hope to be around more this fall. My garden looks horrible! I started digging it up and haven't been able to finish my projects.

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  25. Corner Gardener SueOctober 23, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    Hi Gail,
    I enjoyed your post. I think the bee keepers would love to meet you and see your place. If you like honey, you really should get acquainted with them. They may share with you because of all the pollen their bees get from your flowers. It would also give them peace of mind, knowing their bees are safe in your garden

    LOL about what Barbarapc said.

    It's 76 degrees here right now, and I had to come in to take a break from working outside. I need to take my water out with me. I'm seeing some checkerspots and skippers. I can't remember if there were any bees, but I did see a fly as well.

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"Insects are the little things that run the world." Dr. E O Wilson


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