Honey Bees in the Garden... August

August brings with it long hot days of mid-summer; gardeners are harvesting summer crops and honey bees are preparing for winter.  Having enough food to get them through a cold winter is of utmost importance to the honey bees.  Even the least aggressive honey bees will be defensive while gathering a full supply of winter food. 

Here's a list of plants that begin blooming in August.

Japanese Anemone Pollen
Jerusalem Artichoke Nectar
Calico Aster Nectar
Heath Aster Nectar
Italian Aster Nectar and Pollen
Late Flowering Boneset Nectar
Bush Clematis Pollen
Brush Bush Eucryphia Nectar and Pollen

Giant Goldenrod Nectar and Pollen 

Shrubby VeronicaNectar
Aspera Hydrangea Nectar and Pollen
Oakleaf Hydrangea Nectar and Pollen
Panicle Hydrangea Nectar and Pollen
Bighead Knapweed Nectar and Pollen

Rosea Tree MallowNectar and Pollen
Ginger MintNectar
Ornamental Oregano Nectar and Pollen

Pennyroyal Nectar
Brazillian Pepper Tree Nectar

Garden Phlox Pollen

Chinese Privet Nectar and Pollen
Oval Leafed Privit Nectar and Pollen
Broadleaf Red Hot Poker Nectar and Pollen
Tree Mallow Nectar and Pollen
Small White SnakerootNectar
Great Stonecrop Nectar
Blue Thistle Nectar 

You should be very careful when sniffing your flowers this month; there may be a honey bee collecting food for winter.  She will be much more agressive now because of her need to store enough food to survive the upcoming cold weather. 

Help your local honey bees survive winter by selecting plants that bloom in August. 

Photo credits

Goldenrod courtesy of floraseeker