bee

Bombus hortorum bee

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Some of the new flowers I bought earlier in the year that survived the postage, the wildlife and the weather are now in full bloom and are bringing many bees in. I didn’t know they would be so bee friendly, but it’s a nice suprise. This visitor went through every flower on the salvia ‘hot lips’ one. It was quite a task to get some shots in while it was doing it’s thing, bit I got a couple of awesome ones. In the third picture you can really appreciate how long their tongues are to be able to get to the nectar with such long petals in the way.

(c) K Wicks

Leafcutter bee

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Another first and a very exciting one. I had just found my pink strawberry plant was flowering, hidden among other strawberries and the loganberries. With a fuchsia plant and wildflowers too. As I was trying to get enough sunlight in for a shot, a bee came and landed on the willowherb, cut a section of leaf and left again. I was really surprised. I waited and it came back, took another section and left again, disappearing into the budleia and loganberry bush.

It took a few seconds and once it left again I could see that bee had been a bee had visited a number of times. I haven’t ever noticed holes like that before and realise I have previously pulled these up as weeds before they got to be this pretty and useful! Letting everything grow this year has made a big difference.

(c) K Wicks