where the bees are (and aren't)

This time of year, the bees in my garden are swarming a lot of plants that I'm sure you're familiar with and most likely grow too.  Like Caryopteris (Blue Mist Spirea):

The plants are literally "alive" with activity.  It's truly the busiest spot in my garden at the moment.

Of course, they're also on Agastache 'Blue Fortune:'

I'm so thrilled I finally bought a couple plants ~ they haven't disappointed.  Now I'm wondering if they'll overwinter in their container???   hmmmm...

Another place you'll find a lot of bees is on Sedum Matrona (Stonecrop):

My one plant is spreading quite delightfully, which makes our flying friends happy as well.

Some place the bees are conspicuously absent, is on Eupatorium purpureum subsp. Maculatum 'Gateway' (Joe Pye Weed).  The gardener, ahem, has gotten lazy and there has been no supplemental watering at all.   Therefore, without any natural rainfall for over a month (maybe longer), the big floppy heads have dried up. 

It's a sad sight to witness and I'm very much kicking myself for letting it happen.  Thankfully there are other sources of nourishment available or I would be feeling even worse about my negligence. 

One place we do NOT like to see the bees, is in the clutches of a Jagged Ambush Bug:

ugh.  When you happen upon this sight, it's way too late for the bee.  The second they are snagged, they're injected with poison which turns their insides to liquid that is in turn "slurped" (if you will) by the ambush bug.  The bee or butterfly is left in a "dried" state, completely intact.  I know I've saved a lot of pollinator lives this summer by patroling and capturing multitudes of Ambush bugs but unfortunately, not this one.

What I can tell you, is it was his last supper....

 

Comments

[Sheila]

Nice bee shots!

[Kala]

They're all good shots, but I love the image of the bee on the blooming Stonecrop!

[Gail]

I've seen the nasty ambush bugs waiting for the innocent! I am wondering, too, if Caryopteris will survive in a container~They won't like the wet soil this winter if i decided to plant them in the garden~We'll see! Good luck with yours! Fantastic shots!!! gail

[Lona]

Great images as usual. I just planted a Caryopteris this spring that is blooming now. I wanted it for its blue blooms but I am finding out that the bees really love it so that is an added plus in the garden. It looks like Joe Pye is another plant that I should add to the sunny part of the woodland bed for the small winged things.

[Shady Gardener]

Kathleen, I'm going to have to look up ambush bugs... I don't think I know about them. Love the photos of the flowers and bees, though! :-)

[Catherine]

What great pictures! The Honeybees have been here in full force, even on a wet morning like today.
I don't think we have ambush bugs here, but I did see a poor honey bee caught in a spider's web recently.

[Sherry]

I always enjoy viewing your photos. You captured the color in the caryopteris beautifully.
I don't like the ambush bugs either!

[kerri]

Wonderful pics! Horrible ambush bug. Good for you!