Hornets and yellow jackets, on the other hand, get dispatched as quickly as possible. I've never been stung by a hornet but had a few run-ins with yellow jackets.

The Japanese Maples were the big draw today.

What a great article about growing and using Luffa! So why am I posting it here? Read it and you will see!

https://garden.org/ideas/view/...

Well, that truly is surprising to me! I always thought sea critters too.

Murky said: Well, that truly is surprising to me! I always thought sea critters too.

And who knew its flowers attract bees!

Silver-spotted Skipper on Toadflax.

Honey Bee on Star of Bethlehem.

Saw our first honeybee this season. It was attracted to some almost-flowering weeds that popped up recently.

I still have neither.

I spotted either carpenter or bumble bees attacking my red Bud tree. I never thought of redbuds as pollinator plants. I've also had honeybees on my two rosemaries, which are still blooming.

Bees love my Redbud.





Carpenter Bee on the azalea.

I believe that's a bumblebee. Carpenter bees have shiny butts and bumblebees have hairy butts.

First bumble I've seen this season Wasn't expecting it, blurry photo


Others have been working the rosemary for a while now

I've never actually known if these are natives or honeybees. They appear earliest in the year but I don't notice them midsummer.

I think the problem is with the photo. It's butt didn't seem hairy in real life. I could have gotten it mixed up though, both species were present on the bush.

I didn't know until this year that carpenter bees are also pollinators.

Hamwild said: I didn't know until this year that carpenter bees are also pollinators.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but aren't all bugs pollinators?

joannakat said: Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but aren't all bugs pollinators?

I'm not sure? I don't think certain beetles pollinate flowers, but others do. I guess I just never expected a carpenter bee to be one. All I ever heard was how they're pests.

That reminds me about a post on facebook I read the other day, it was saying yellowjackets are pollinators too, they're just not as good at it.

Joanna — insects, birds, butterflies and moths known as pollinators are creatures that travel from flower to flower transporting pollen in the course of gathering or consuming pollen or nectar as food.

Some insects don't consume pollen or nectar; they eat roots, stalks, leaves, buds or petals and so don't spread pollen around. Other insects are carnivores.

∆ Highly simplified explanation ignoring exceptions, other animals, and not addressing other forms of pollination, but you get the idea. 🏵️

There's quite a few beetles that pollinate. And bats pollinate plants, as well as eat lots of mosquitos!

Xerces has an interesting article about beetle pollinators!
https://www.xerces.org/blog/no...

Thanks, Zoe, a fascinating article! I never knew beetles comprised 40% of all insects. Makes me wonder how many I don't see in the yard.