Addicted to Bees

Taraxacum officinale You might be surprised to find dandelion in my best bee plant list, but these bright, vibrant landing […]

Signed copies of Jean Vernon’s new book, Attracting Garden Pollinators will be available in April 2022

If you only grow one thing for your garden pollinators choose Viper’s bugloss. It’s easy to grow from seed, it’s hardy and it’s a native of the UK, plus it replenishes its nectaries regularly making it a magnet for garden pollinators.

The wings of a bumblebee are driven by powerful muscles that facilitate buzz pollination and can also be used to raise temperature. Bees have two pairs of wings

The Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) is an iconic summer garden bee. It’s a solitary bee and will sometimes nest […]

Lamb’s ears is a magnet for bees, especially the wool carder bee

Look out for the leaf-cutter bees in your June garden. You might notice the notches on your rose leaves.

Here’s a great way to learn more about solitary bees. Listen in to the Wildlife World Community Podcast where Jean Vernon and Professor Jeff Ollerton talk about solitary bees

The Ashy Mining bee is just one of the 65 or so Andrena species in the UK. These are the ground nesting bees that excavate their nests in close mown areas of the lawn, bare soil and sunny banks.

The Hairy Footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) is one of the earliest emerging solitary bees. By the end of February and into early March the male of the species climbs out of his egg chamber and into the sunlight.