Bumblebee Sunday

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The bumblebees have been around for about a week. But it was only yesterday that I saw them feeding on the willow tree in the garden. Willow is an important early pollen source for bumblebee queens coming out of hibernation. This is what they are after.

Yellow willow pollen

Yellow willow pollen

There appears to two bees, the White-tailed bumble and the Buff tailed bumble. These are usually the first bees we see here in the west.

Buff tailed bumblebee
White tailed bumblebee
White-tailed bumblebee

 

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White tailed queen bumblebee

24 thoughts on “Bumblebee Sunday”

    1. Murtagh's Meadow Post author

      I need to plant more crocus for next year. Mine were mostly in bloom during the snow, so need to find some that will flower a bit later. They will find yours if they are hungry!

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  4. Eliza Waters

    Lovely spring shots. With trepidation, I had to pollard my willow as it was so overgrown. I’ve put it off so long just because it provides early feeding for bees. There is never a good time to cut it! I comfort myself by telling myself there are lots of willows and alder down by the river.

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    1. Murtagh's Meadow Post author

      I know the feeling Eliza. I stopped my husband cutting one of the willows back too much, but I will give it another trim when the catkins are over! I have planted a couple of more different ones but they are very little yet, though one at least has good number of catkins.

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    1. Murtagh's Meadow Post author

      Hellebores are great for bees. The non-fluffy ones are either honey bees or solitary bees. I’d love to have more hellebores in my garden but at the moment I have enough shady places. But trees are getting more established.

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    1. Murtagh's Meadow Post author

      It certainly is. If your bee was a bumblebee it was more likely to have been a her, as the queens should be starting to come out of hibernation now.

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  9. Pingback: Important EU Public Consultation on Pollinators | Murtagh's Meadow

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