The photo is one of the bees returning. Apologies for the photo clarity, but I didn't want to get too close and the light was poor, but I wanted to get a shot to post and to help identify what type of bumble bee I have. According to *this site*, my black bees with red bottoms most probably the Red Tailed Bumble Bee. I can't be sure as I cannot get close enough (don't want to disturb them and don't want to get stung).
This little bit of research led me to doing more reading about bees. Bees are currently threatened from disease, loss of habitat, loss of bee keepers (really) and more the more aggressive South American breeds. Einstein is quoted as saying " without bees to pollinate our food crops, humans would die off in just 4 years". I checked out Snopes.com and it is unlikely that Einstein actually said this, but the point is no less salient. So, I'm happy to have my lodgers. Bumble bee nests are small and short lived on the whole, so they will move on in time and in the meantime they seem content to share my garden with me.
15 comments:
We've got some bees in the garden too... tho they seem to be attracted to our heather.
Funny, we have bumble bees occupying our bird house for the first time this year also. I will post the photo I took the other day with 12 of them on the "front porch." ;-)
About a zillion years ago, i stumbled onto a bumble bee hive in the woods (they're very small) and managed to snag some honey. Outstanding stuff!
Cheers.
I don't usually think of bees as being furry, but when I look at them close---they sure do look furry.
I don't eat many pollinated foods, but there sure are plenty of them out there.
I saw one of these bees earlier when I was in the garden... Never seen one like that before seeing your blog.
YOu are very lucky to have bees nearby!
Cool! Are they honey-making bees?
(Yes, this would be where I show my absolute and total ignorance of bees)
There is a lot of truth to the opening scene in "The Happening" where Mark Wahlberg asks the class what the significance is of the bees dying off. I try my very best to ignore them for the most part, but if I see a wasp, it's dying. I know the benefits of having wasps around, but quite honestly, I like being able to walk into my house without fear!
Heavens! A world without bees? Where would we get our honey from? And wouldn't the flowers get lonely?
It is good to see that you have these Bees....I haven't seen too many Bees this year yet, but then, I am not out in the garden very much...Down below, I had some "carpenter bees"....they look like Black Bumble Bees and they bore holes in wood and that's where the nest s are.....Amazing, isn't it?
Thanks so much for the package. That was very thoughtful of you. The card is lovely and did immediately make me think of Mimi. I do plan on making the best I can out of this year. I guess only time will tell how it goes...
smart bees
they come to a place where they will be appreciated
hugs to the kitties
Just checking in to say, "Hi" and make sure all is well with you and the new "kittehs."
Cheers.
We have quite a lot of heather which seems to attract the bees although Ive not seen thir base camp. The wasps around our way are quite nosy and always interested if I brew fresh coffee.
Fascinating. there seems to be a resurgence in those interested in bumble Bees!..My friend and fellow pointillist artist Christine also writes about them on her blog: www.christinefarmer.com/home/2009/07/a-day-at-the-leaf-cutter-bee-nests/
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