The way flowers attract pollinators is very interesting. Of course there’s scent, which is easy to understand. And color. Scientists claim that butterflies favor flowers in the red or yellow range, while bees prefer blue or purple. Mine don’t seem to be that picky. Online there’s a lot of research and discussion about ultraviolet rays, which I won’t even pretend to comprehend. But one of the most fascinating facts about pollination is something called “Nectar Guides”, colors or markings on blooms to show the visiting insect where to find the goodies. The Common Sage (Salvia officianilis) is a perfect example of this. The blossom makes me think of an airport runway just waiting for a bee to alter a flight path and come in for a landing. Pretend you’re a bee and you gotta admit it looks pretty inviting!
