The winter flowers of oriental borage (Trachystemon orientalis) are a rich nectar source for early emerging queen bees such as this White Tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum agg)
Image: Martin Mulchinock
Herbs are a wonderful plant choice for bees. This thyme is perfect for short tongued bumblebees like the buff tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Image: Jean Vernon
Purple top (verbena bonariensis) blooms all summer and offers clusters of small, nectar rich flowers
One of the best bee plants is the native viper’s bugloss
Image: Jean Vernon
Pollen isn’t always yellow. Look close at the pollen baskets on this honeybee collecting from a verbascum
Image: Jean Vernon
Short tongued like the buff tailed bumblebee bees (Bombus terrestris) are known to steal nectar by chewing holes in the flowers above the nectaries
Image: Jean Vernon
As the female leaf cutter bee climbs into the sweetpea flower, the sticky stigma swipes over her back and picks up loose pollen
Image: Jean Vernon
Bees are known to self-medicate by feeding on medicinal herbs
Image: Martin Mulchinock
An early bumblebee Bombus pratorum) male feeds next to a male Forest Cuckoo bee Bombus sylvestris)
Image: Jean Vernon
Don’t get too close to bees. A leg in the air is not a hello
Image: Jean Vernon
A female leaf cutter bee lays her eggs in tube-like cavities sealing each cell with leaf segments
Image: Martin Mulchinock
