The guy who put hives on my property told me a bit about the huge variety of native bees we have. So far I've photographed and identified over 20 different native bees. The same guy put a mason bee box on my property but the only ones using it are leaf cutter bees.

Great timing on this article Mindy, I just took a lot of shots of bees yesterday, some of my plants are just absolutely alive with movement and buzzing! I have to move carefully when deadheading, often waiting until the cooler evening time when the bees aren't as active. I am afraid of grabbing one accidentally.
I didn't even recognize my rose shot at first, what a vibrant pink! (it was actually taken at a large public rose garden in San Jose, a big city ) I had bees in my garden down there but nothing like up here in my new garden with lots of surrounding fields and farms.

Here are a few shots from yesterday and a few from the past few weeks too.

One of my popular bee plant right now is Dahlia 'Bishop's Children'


Globe Thistle seems to be very popular! (Echinops ritro subsp. ruthenicus)



My Chaste Tree (Vitex 'Shoal Creek') is still small but the bees do love it too.


I lost my tag for this sage, I need to do some research and see which one this is.


My Russian Sage 'Little Spire' is super popular with the bees.

We have a lot of native bees here Tabby but I'm afraid I'm only interested in the honey bees I do enjoy seeing the natives though.

Sue as always your pictures are beautiful. I've noticed they love just about any of the sages or any of the herb plants for that matter.

BEAUTIFUL shots Sue

Just got these out of the camera - they were taken 8/12.

The bees around here really go for basil flowers. Unfortunately I have to cut the flowers off if I want the basil to keep growing. Got to have my pesto!
(I left some flowers on, plus there's lots of other stuff they like).
There are loads of morning glory blooms right nearby that the bees seems to ignore. Yet the hummingbirds love them. And I was surprised that the bees didn't seem to go for Nasturtiums. It's been an interesting year figuring out what they do like and what they don't

Awesome shots tabby! I really have got to get my macro lens on and give it a shot. Love the close-ups of garden critters especially the bees.

Thanks!
It's not a bad lens for coming standard with the camera. And the honey bees are pretty good about letting me get within 4 to 6 inches.
I've seen other photos that really make me want to go out and get a better lens.

Great pictures as always Tabby. Our bees don't stay still long enough for me to get good pictures so I have to rely on my husband to take them.

Next year you may find the bees visiting the flowers they ignored this year. That's the fun part of checking which flowers they visit. Each plant provides something different in way of nutrition so I've been wondering why would they need more of this than they do of that. Also, why more of this plant this year than last year etc.

vic said:I could read about your bees forever Margaret

Thank you

What she said.

Every time one of your bee articles pops up in random ideas, I click over to it and refresh my memory. I have no desire to be a beekeeper, but I'm passionate about supporting pollinators as well as birds/butterflies.

Thank you Mary I'm glad you are enjoying the articles again.