On Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:10:37 +0100, mark wrote:

My bumblebees like chives, linaria, foxgloves, alliums, heucheras and
clover. Chive seems to be favourite and sweet williams least popular.
Nothing though on several big clumps of lupins. Dozens of bumble bees
but no honeybees seen today.

Oddly we haven't seen many honey bees this year either, and we're in deep
country, usually scads of them. Lots of bumblebees, though.

I wonder if the cold weather is somehow depressing the population.
Bumblebees do start very early and don't seem to be too bothered by the
cold...



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On 2013-06-25 12:48:53 +0100, Emery Davis said:

On Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:10:37 +0100, mark wrote:

My bumblebees like chives, linaria, foxgloves, alliums, heucheras and
clover. Chive seems to be favourite and sweet williams least popular.
Nothing though on several big clumps of lupins. Dozens of bumble bees
but no honeybees seen today.

Oddly we haven't seen many honey bees this year either, and we're in deep
country, usually scads of them. Lots of bumblebees, though.

I wonder if the cold weather is somehow depressing the population.
Bumblebees do start very early and don't seem to be too bothered by the
cold...

On a sunny day in January bumblebees work hard! If people haven't
already got it, we recommend Eupatorium atropurpureum. It's a total
magnet to pollinating insects.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On Tue, 25 Jun 2013 14:49:22 +0100, Sacha wrote:

I wonder if the cold weather is somehow depressing the population.
Bumblebees do start very early and don't seem to be too bothered by the
cold...

On a sunny day in January bumblebees work hard! If people haven't
already got it, we recommend Eupatorium atropurpureum. It's a total
magnet to pollinating insects.

Exactly! They're very cheery companions while we're out slogging away
with early spring cutting back and clearing out. I felt bad for them
this year though, flowers seem few and late. The Weigela coraeensis is
just coming into bloom now, it's already about 2 m tall after 2 years! It
was full of bumbles this WE, and looks fantastic next to a Kolkwitzia
'Pink Cloud' (also not yet full out).



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On 2013-06-25 17:28:04 +0100, Emery Davis said:

On Tue, 25 Jun 2013 14:49:22 +0100, Sacha wrote:

I wonder if the cold weather is somehow depressing the population.
Bumblebees do start very early and don't seem to be too bothered by the
cold...

On a sunny day in January bumblebees work hard! If people haven't
already got it, we recommend Eupatorium atropurpureum. It's a total
magnet to pollinating insects.

Exactly! They're very cheery companions while we're out slogging away
with early spring cutting back and clearing out. I felt bad for them
this year though, flowers seem few and late. The Weigela coraeensis is
just coming into bloom now, it's already about 2 m tall after 2 years! It
was full of bumbles this WE, and looks fantastic next to a Kolkwitzia
'Pink Cloud' (also not yet full out).

They love the Weigela and in the nicest possible sense, ours are full
of little furry backsides at present!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk