Bees

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?UNYDO 23 June 2012. Bees on Papaver somniferum flowers
Bees swarm the Papaver somniferum flowers. I had and have more bees this year than the last six years combined.The grass in the backyard has not been cut for about a month and the white clover flowers are not cut off. The yard is white with these clover flowers. This is also an attraction for the bees.I seeded the clover about six year ago in the grass.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?TPMNS 16 June 2012 Poppy and Bees
A picture of a pretty poppy growing almost alone. The other Shirley poppies are saturated with bees. Next year the poppies will be planted on the periphery of the vegetable garden and along some rows to attract bees. The poppy plant is basically not intrusive and should grow well amongst vegetables, particularly tomatoes.

[Nastarana]

Humble bumbles were swarming all over vetch in my yard. Now the vetch has gone to seed, and soon, as in this afternoon, to be cut down for composting, and the bumbles are on the roses. I love it that the humbles are not picky about what flower they visit.

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by Nastarana

Humble bumbles were swarming all over vetch in my yard. Now the vetch has gone to seed, and soon, as in this afternoon, to be cut down for composting, and the bumbles are on the roses. I love it that the humbles are not picky about what flower they visit.

I suspect some of my bees are drug addicts. The Papaver somniferum flowers are addressed almost in a bee frenzy.

[Desert Rat]

My oriental poppies reseed all over the front desert area of my yard and the bees just go crazy over them. I'll plant some in the back near the garden this fall but in our heat they're usually done by the time we need pollinators for the squash, melons etc. They are beautiful though.

[Roadrunner]

I just read this, never knew there is a "poisonous flower" to bees. http://www.pacificcrestapiaries.com/id58.html

Buckeye Tree (Aesculus)

"DEADLY TREE" TO HONEY BEES!!

Who would have ever dreamed that a fragrant bloom of a tree can cause so much harm to honey bees!?

The pollen from this tree is "deadly" to honey bees. The honey bees go out and forage for nectar and pollen from blooming trees and plants in the Spring and Summer. The pollen of this tree is brought back to the hive to feed the brood. What develops is a wingless honey bee. Without wings, the worker or female bees cannot forage for the necessary nectar and pollen to help keep the colony alive. Eventually, all the brood which was fed the pollen of this tree is wingless and useless to the hive. Soon, the entire hive dies due to starvation.

It is essential that there are plenty of other blooming plants and trees for bees to feed upon. But, if the only tree or shrub which is blooming is the Buckeye, then all colonies nearby this deadly tree will soon die.

If your colonies are any where near Buckeye and nothing else, you must move them at least 3 - 5 miles away. Be sure to move them where there are plenty of other flowers to forage upon.

[LuvsToPlant]

That's a good read Roadrunner.

Not to worry though...if you have plenty of other flowering plants nearby.

If you had hives and the only flowering specie around was the Buckeye...then there would be some concern.

Very interesting though...poor things "no wings"