These are the new plants we are putting in at the front of the house. The cherry tree we already had, but it is loaded with cherries this year for the first time, apparently because of our squirrels’ having a very bad year last year and being quite diminished this year – they usually take all the cherries in the first couple of days.
It took both Robin and our computer technician to help me get this up here. We’ll see how I do.
Potted plants for front yard
Cherry tree in front yard
Cherry Tree2
My swamp milkweed has been quite a magnet for bumblebees! Here is a video I took yesterday. It sure makes you appreciate the saying “Busy as a bee”, doesn’t it?
A picture of Belle
This is one of my favorite pictures of my yellow lab “Belle” sitting in “her” chair in our backyard one early morning. I was sitting on the back stoop and took this picture with my old cell phone. I call it “Belle Contemplating the Universe.” Later my sisters framed a copy of this picture which is now on display in my dining room. — Robin
Belle Contemplating the Universe
After posting the picture of my magnolia, I stumbled upon an interesting article in my newspaper. A reader was asking about the beetles in her magnolia blossoms and wondered why they were there and if they were harmful. The gardening guru answered by saying that magnolias are among the most primitive plants found in today’s landscapes. He said dinosaurs probably enjoyed their shade! They developed their flowers long before bees and butterflies evolved, and so grew to attract a different kind of pollinator….the beetle! Beetles love to eat the magnolia pollen. Then they visit neighboring magnolia trees, accomplishing the pollination vital for making seeds. Who knew? From now on I’ll have a higher esteem for the lowly beetle.
We plant a vegetable garden in our backyard every year with peas, lettuce, onions, green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, pattypan squash, cucumbers, various tomatoes, and peppers. Right now, the beans are coming in–Beans R Us!! While picking all these beans, I have been amazed at all the tiny, native bees that are all over the plants. I have never really thought about how all those bean flowers got pollinated to make all those beans, but now I know! It’s not the honeybees that do it, it’s the tiny, almost invisible native bees that do the work! I think these bees I’m seeing are sweat bees, barely 1/4 inch in length, and they are everywhere!
Back in June, I purchased a mason bee habitat and hung it up in the garden. Mason bees are another type of native bee that is a major pollinator of fruit crops in the spring. I hoped to attract some mason bees to my habitat so they would lay their eggs in it and emerge next spring to pollinate my garden, but I think I may be too late this year. However, someone has moved into at least one of the holes! I have no idea what kind of bee it is, but I’m pleased that someone thought my little habitat was good enough!
This is my mason bee habitat. Someone has moved into the largest hole on the left!
So thank you, native bees, for our abundant bean crop! I may not feel so grateful in a few weeks when I’m sick to death of beans, beans, beans, but right now it’s wonderful!
Spirea
Vitex
It wouldn’t be the South without our magnolias and crepe myrtles.
The more bees that visit my garden, the more I feel that my gardening efforts are successful.
Here are some of my “better” pictures of flowers being visited by bees. (In some cases, you may have to look pretty closely to spot the bee.)
Bee on Black-eyed Susan – Some Species of Leafcutter?
I love the species name of “Bombus” for the bumblebees. Somehow nothing else would be so appropriate.
Bee on Penstemon – Bumble Bee
Bee on Purple Cone Flower
Closer view of bumblebee on coneflower:
Bumblebee on Purple Coneflower
Bombus again:
Bees on Common Milkweed
Bee on Goldenrod
According to the book Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm, wild bergamot is one of the best forage plants for bumblebees.
Bee on Monarda
Here’s a video where you can see some “bee action” on the Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot).
It’s early summer in Delaware. The spring flowers are finished and the spring ephemerals have vanished until next year. Here in my yard, the summer show is just starting. My bee balm is beginning to bloom along with some swamp milkweed called Ice Ballet.
Bee balm coming into bloom
Swamp milkweed
“Ice Ballet”
It looks like one of my jack-in-the-pulpits is going to actually make some berries! If all goes well, they should be bright red in the fall.
Jack-in-the-pulpit with berries
The butterfly weed and false sunflower in the front are doing well in the sun, though I think I need to move the false sunflower to a different spot and maybe get some more so it doesn’t look so lonely!
Butterfly weed
False sunflower
Back on the north side, my ferns are growing lush and full. Isn’t it interesting how they get smaller as they get closer to the northeast corner of my house with more sunlight? They definitely like shade!
Ferns and day lilies on north side
I am finally on the blog, and here are some pictures of my recent gardening.
Native Garden Between Houses
Shade garden in far yard, with fireplug
Hops Vine
Front Yard by Curb
Bamboo by back fence to hide monster house nextdoor
Trumpet vine on back fence
Milkweed, bee balm and joe pye
FROM WEEDS TO BEES 