I have been working in the garden for the last four days and have had regular visits from this very large bumblebee...........
she is attracted to the Mahonia flowers.........and her sweet humming was pleasant company.........what a joy for me to have them back in the garden......
I know that I keep singing the praises of Mahonia Charity but it is wonderful for the insects, that have come out of hibernation, due to the milder weather. I have seen honey bees, wasps and bumbles on it over the last few days.
As the day came to a close she was still working away.......perhaps she has a nest not far away from the shrub........I hope so, she needs to get back to her nest, as the air was beginning to chill. As for me,time to go in, I am making lots of plans for the garden.....larger beds.........more winter flowering shrubs.........and definately more wild flowers. I always feel energised this time of year, cooler weather suits me. Must go, lots of planning to do........hope you all had a great weekend.........
27 comments:
Cheryl, I can't believe you still have have bees in your gardens. It must have warmed up. I hope all of ours are settled in their nests as we got down to 25F. I can just imagine all your new areas next year-lost of wikdflowers for the bees. Good for you. Have a great rest of the weekend.
Charity begins at home and in your case in your garden with that generous mahonia providing the bumblebees with nectar. I saw a bumblebee in my garden too this week, dancing in the sunshine.
Lovely post, as usual. :-)
Hi Beckie....hope you had alovely weekend with the girls......The temperatures are around 11C (52F) at the moment....it is damp and the breeze has an edge but good gardening weather.....bbrrrr 25F now that is cold, no wonder your bees have disappeared.......
I like that Yolanda.....good play on words, then you are so very good at that......
A little bit of sunshine does bring out the bees......
Dear Cheryl,
A very large and beautiful bumble!
It warmed a bit at my house and I saw a few little honey bees on my rotting fruit. Very few blooms have survived our below freezing temperatures.
Winter flowering shrubs would be heavenly! I also am planning next year's gardens. It is what we do!
Your temps run a wee warmer than ours in November. I love when it does warm up into the 50's. It is when I too like to be out cleaning up annuals and such.
Lovely bumble bee photograph.
Sherry
Boy, you sure are busy.
We haven't seen bees for the last 2 weeks but then again we're not outside that much. Too much rain.
i am glad it warmed up enough to see the bumbles. they are beautiful. also great that you had so much time in the garden.
What pretty flowers Cheryl and aren't you lucky to have bumbles at this time of year. It looks like a teddy bear with wings.
I can't wait to see/hear about your plans for the garden. I am still in my winter rest mode. Maybe when I see what you are going to be about I will be inspired to do something.
Cheryl, How wonderful that you are able to work in the garden right now and that you still have bees! As Beckie said, it's quite cold here--too cold to work outside, and definitely too cold for the bees.
I have to tell you, Cheryl, that today I finally went to see a movie I've been wanting to see since it came out--"The Secret Life of Bees." Have you seen it? I read the book a couple years ago and just loved it; oldest granddaughter also read it and went to see the movie with me. I was pleased that the movie stayed true to the book. If you've seen the movie or read the book, you know that the bees are just a metaphor for the main conflicts in the novel. But I couldn't help thinking of you during some of the scenes with the bees. If you haven't seen it, I'd definitely recommend going.
Dear Sherry......It is always good to plan....a garden is never truly finished, is it? The huge bumble may have been the queen.....she may be nesting in my garden....I do hope so.....I am thinking of buying a witch hazel....I have read they are good for helping insects during the cold months....that is my next purchase.....I shall look this week.....
Hope butterfly is ok?
Hi Patsy.....we also have had lots of rain....unless it is torrential I try to do something in the garden. When you have an acre and garden alone, you have to keep on top of it.....
Hi Lisa......the bumble was like a teddy bear, you are right....
I have lost of plans for the garden, will keep you posted.....as I said to Sherry buy more shrubs is a must....the witch hazel is my next buy.....
I want a wonderful winter garden as well.....something a wee bit special......
Hi Rose.....It was lovely to have it a tad warmer....and to see the bee was an absolute bonus......
Thank you for recommending the Secret Life of Bees.....this is a must.......I have not read the book or seen the movie.......I am always pleased when someone suggests a book to me.....thank you so much......
Cheryl - it's interesing to hear of your bumble visitors. I've seen three very large bumblebees over the last few (and very mild) days. I've wondered whether they are queens?
I agree about Mahonia Charity - such a wonderful scent too!
Hi Cheryl
What a gorgeous bee and some gorgeous photos. How lovely to have such a visitor at this time of year. xx
It sounds as though you are doing the same thing I am doing in my garden. All summer I have been dreaming and planning how I was going to enlarge the beds and put in new ones as soon as it was cool enough to get out and really work in the garden again. I do love the cooler weather, and this is my favorite time of year. Have you put in your new trees yet?
Amazing to still have a busy bee buzzing around. You obviously grow all the right stuff!
Hi Tricia....this is good to know....I originally thought queen but like you today I have seen several of these very large bumbles .....this has never happened before at this time of year.....
Hi morning glories.....no I have not collected my trees yet.....they are bare root, so I will not get them until end Nov beg Dec........I can't wait to collect them, to find out what I have actually got......the bed is prepared......it travels right the way along the length of the copse......so if I keep the trees pollarded it will make a wonderful wildlife hedge.........
What a wonderful visitor...the cooler weather does seem to invigorate...maybe clear the clutter from the past season.
It was a lovely visitor Chris....such a huge bee......
cooler weather definately gets me moving......
Cheryl, I have noticed my mahonia, first by smell and then its beautiful yellow flowers.
They are saying next weekend might be very cold, if not snowing,brrrrr.
Beautiful as usual... is always so wonderful to come here! I dream of the day when I'll have a house with a backyard where wildlife and nature can coexist in peaceful harmony with my life... in the mean time I can always come here... ;)
Have a lovely evening Cheryl!
Cielo
Hi ..I got some Spring blooming bulbs planted today...for a lovely Spring ...it's getting cold here
and I still have chamomile to plant
around the stone path
one day at a time
smiles, Deena
I can't believe you still have bees buzzing around in your gardens. I enjoyed your photos, as ours are long gone.
I'm glad you are enjoying the cool weather. It's not my favourite time of year, but we are in different climates. I feel the energy more in springtime.
I didn't realize until recently what an important role honey bees play in pollenating our fruit trees. I never thought of them as being domesticated in that way, but they really are an essential ingredient of civilization, no less important than the horse or cow.
Oh I bet you were so happy to have your visitors Cheryl. Lovely pictures and thanks for sharing. Hope you and Mr P are well xxxx
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