Wasn’t able to look for bees the past couple of days (art festival interfered), but today one lavender had a couple of bees. Just starting to open. Here’s a great Hunt’s bumble. Check out that orange pollen – huge chunk of it. Absolutely didn’t come from the lavender and I’m really curious about it. Happy lavender day.
Tag: Hunt's Bumblebee
Drenched Hunt’s Bumble on the Russian Sage
This bee normally looks pretty unkempt (literally “not combed”) – the bedhead bee. And when they’re wet, it’s even more apparent. Good look early on a summer morning.
Can’t Wait for Spring…
Such a wild shot here. Russian sage going in lots of directions. The green in the background. And the contrast of the black/yellow/orange of the Hunt’s bumble. Nature really is the best artist. Wow. So much going on…and on and on together. Fun shot.
Hunt’s in Flight with Strange Light
This one sort of speaks for itself. It’s a great shot of the bee either approaching or departing. Look at that tongue! And just about everything else… Sometime I get lucky. The light, though, is fairly wonky. The bee isn’t.
See if You Can Guess Which Flower This Is…
I’m pretty sure you got it right… And this bee is a Hunt’s Bumble. Note the unkempt look of it. One of my favorites for that very reason. I might have a little of that DNA in me.
Vertical Hunt’s Bumble
Posting a few days in advance. Heading out to Fountain Hills, AZ for the art festival there.
A Hunt’s bumble perched at the top of a liatris bud/stalk. That bedhead bee. Interesting that this one throws white pollen. And lots of it. A favorite of the pollinators…and one you should plant if you have the space.
Yesterday’s Bumble – Hunt’s Bumble Queen Over the Squills
Apparently, this is a Hunt’s bumble queen. I usually call the Hunt’s “the bedhead bee” because it looks so unkempt. Apparently the queen pays more attention to her grooming than the other gals. Who knew? This one looks well kempt.
So stupid cold lately. 24 degrees as of this writing…which most likely means the bees will be hunkering down today. Spring in Utah. Shouldn’t complain. Beautiful, really.
Fatality in the Salvias
This is a great photo, but it’s pretty disturbing. This Hunt’s bumble got ambushed by an ambush bug and it’s going to work on dinner now. I see this several times a year…the outcome I mean. And often see the ambush bugs hunting in the gardens. Circle of life and all that, I guess, but I’m cheering for the bees to get away.
Some Hunt’s Bumbletongue on a Salvia
Great view of this beadhead bee. Love the pollen on its eye. I say ‘its’ because while most honeybees that you see are female, this one might be a drone bumble. Can’t tell.
Hunt’s Bumble on Maybe a ‘mum
I think. Still with beadhead. This polar vortex storm is making a mess here in the rockies. Eight or ten inches of snow, but lots more has fallen (and melted). And it’s still snowing strong. Those poor crocuses in the vanguard. They’re pretty hearty, but they’re probably wondering what’s happened to spring. So have I. However…it’s been the driest winter that I can remember (but that’s not a great metric) and we need the moisture.
It’s one of those things…you know it’s good, but it’s sure seems lousy when it’s happening. Something about perspective. When the reservoirs are full and I see the water on the garden this summer, maybe I’ll remember this morning and think a little. Probably a lesson in there somewhere… Ha!
