So I went through my photos to see what natives I captured bumble bees nectaring upon this past summer.
It's important to provide nectar sources for our pollinators throughout the year. Bumblebees are one of the first bees to emerge in spring and last well into late fall.
May
Wild Geranium ~ Geranium maculatum was an early spring favorite, pictured here at the end of May.
We had Wild Geranium growing in our yard so we have many seedlings available to transplant throughout the yard.
Anise hyssop ~ Agastache foeniculum
This is a great native plant for sunny dry sites. If you're a licorice fan like me, you'll love the anise smelling foliage.
Culver's Root ~ Veronicastrum virginicum
Culver's root likes moist, rich soils but can spread quickly in your landscape. I have planted it in slightly drier conditions and it does not spread as quickly.
The bees love this native, as well as many wasps species.
Cup Plant ~ Silphium perfoliatum
Cup plant is a tall, sunflower like native with large coarse leaves that join at the stem to hold water.
It is rated as one of the best wildlife natives for its nectar, water, seeds and cover it provides.
September
Stiff Goldenrod ~ Oligoneuron rigidum (Solidago rigida)
The Stiff Goldenrod in our yard this year won the pollinator prize. I did a post in early September about all the different pollinating insects it attracted including bees, flies, wasps butterflies and beetles.
What plants in your yard attract the most pollinators?
Carole Brown wrote a good post about native pollinators too this week on the Beautiful Wildlife Garden blog.
Check out more native wildflowers at Clay and Limestone for Wildflower Wednesday.
What a great post! I have been focusing on natives the past few years and really want to check out the culver's root. Thrilled to have found this blog!
ReplyDeleteGlad you stopped by. I like Culver's Root a lot for the pollinators. It also is one of the few native perennials with whorled leaves which gives it a different look and texture when used in landscapes.
ReplyDeleteHeather
loved this...i think the asters are usually covered every summer...can't get near them as well as the weigela flowers
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteYou're right, asters are a great late season nectar source.
Heather
I just read that post on Wildlife Garden and added this book to my wish list! I love your photos. I used to have culver's root in my Maine garden and absolutely loved that plant – thank you for reminding me to add it to my new garden. Also, that cup plant! I find it so interesting how it collects water in its leaves that pollinators drink from.
ReplyDeleteHi Violet Fern,
ReplyDeleteYou'll really like the book.
Heather
Hello Heather! So glad to see all the wonderful Bumbles...I would add rudbeckia and monardas to the mix. They both are great pollinator attractors. I so agree with you~Cup Plant is one fantastic plant! Glad you joined the WW celebration. gail
ReplyDeleteHi Gail,
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Monarda is a favorite, I'll have to get more photos this summer of the bumble bees.
Heather
Bumble bees are abundant in my garden and seem to go to all the flowers, especially loving wisteria. I will have to pay closer attention this season. Do you know that they rarely sting? My son used to gently pick them up and sit them on his palm to pat them by stroking their fuzzy backs. They seemed to like it.
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteYes they're really gentle, I've only been stung once and it was because the bee got caught in my shirt.
Heather
We'd like to add agastache foeniculum - anise hyssop - to that group of uncommon blooms that attract native pollinators. This hyssop is not only lovely but very functional in a garden...and it provides 4 seasons of interest in our gardens.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this post and the beautiful photos of our furry bumbly friends! I grow all those plants here in MA and can attest to their bee friendliness! I have an area at the back of a "formal" habitat garden and I love the white candelabra blooms along with yellow rudbeckia which blooms at the same time....
ReplyDeleteLove that goldenrod variety, not one I've seen before..
Hi Prairie Godmother,
ReplyDeleteYes agastache is one of my favorites. The four lined plant bugs love to pierce holes in the foliage which I find interesting.
Heather
Hi Ellen,
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great plant combo, I have both but they're not planted together!
Heather