JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
It's one of the most common bees here. Metallic Green Sweat Bee. There a few different types. Some have the black and white stripes like Addy's and the one in my photo, and some are all green.
Native Gardening
- Thread starter JBtheExplorer
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It's one of the most common bees here. Metallic Green Sweat Bee. There a few different types. Some have the black and white stripes like Addy's and the one in my photo, and some are all green.
tbendl
T
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Oh my lawdy. Where have I been that I didn't know this??? I feel like I just found out that there are 2 Easter bunnies and 1 of them glows in the dark!!!!
I'm googling this because I think they are so cool looking.
I'm googling this because I think they are so cool looking.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Blue Orchard Mason Bees are pretty cool too. Never seen one in person, though. Not really sure if they're in my area.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Three of my native plants decided that the 4th of July was the perfect day to begin bursting open with color. Swamp Milkweed, Purple Prairie Clover, Bee Balm. The Bee Balm doesn't look like it's going to be as red as I was hoping, so I may have to continue my search for the red ones. This looks like like a pink-red.
Yesterday, I bought and added Blue Giant Hyssop after seeing it on a trail last Thursday.
Yesterday, I bought and added Blue Giant Hyssop after seeing it on a trail last Thursday.
Created a mason bee house two years ago... Must be working...every year I have gotten more and more mason bees. This year I have had to drill more holes for the 1st time in a year becuase
they have filled all spots. Just put up a 2nd house as well.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Nice! I've just been getting Potter wasps so far this year, unsure if native or not. I've seen bees go in, but they just use it as shelter and don't nest. I'm expecting Leafcutter bee activity to start picking up shortly.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
So, my Monarda didyma turned out to be pink, unfortunately. I'll leave it in until I can slowly replace it. If wildlife usage is high, I'd consider keeping it, but I wanted red. I think I'll put some in my bog and see if it survives.
The day I discovered it was pink, I went out to a local garden center and bought the last red one they had in stock. It's the 'Jacob Cline' variety. I generally stay away from hybrids or cultivars, but I'll make the exception since it's so difficult to find the red wild specie. It's only one stalk, so i hope it spreads quickly. I'm gonna need a lot of it.
Meanwhile, my Monarda fistulosa is just beginning to bloom. At this point, my garden is basically 50 shades of Monarda.
I've also began cutting down Smooth Oxeye, sadly. They've been completely taken over by powdery mildew and I want to limit that as much as possible. I may end up just removing them all together and finding something else that'll work in that spot. It's a setback to the section of garden I added last year, and I can't figure out why they have it so bad, but I never see that problem in the wild.
The day I discovered it was pink, I went out to a local garden center and bought the last red one they had in stock. It's the 'Jacob Cline' variety. I generally stay away from hybrids or cultivars, but I'll make the exception since it's so difficult to find the red wild specie. It's only one stalk, so i hope it spreads quickly. I'm gonna need a lot of it.
Meanwhile, my Monarda fistulosa is just beginning to bloom. At this point, my garden is basically 50 shades of Monarda.
I've also began cutting down Smooth Oxeye, sadly. They've been completely taken over by powdery mildew and I want to limit that as much as possible. I may end up just removing them all together and finding something else that'll work in that spot. It's a setback to the section of garden I added last year, and I can't figure out why they have it so bad, but I never see that problem in the wild.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
The 'Jacob Cline' Bee Balm is blooming! Pretty amazing. I'm definitely gonna want more of this in the garden.
Blue Giant Hyssop is also blooming. Both are in the mint family.
Green Sweat Bee on Purple Prairie Clover.
...and currently the most colorful section of garden.
Blue Giant Hyssop is also blooming. Both are in the mint family.
Green Sweat Bee on Purple Prairie Clover.
...and currently the most colorful section of garden.
Looking good JB... I Think I have a Mix of leafcutter bees and mason bees sharing my bee house. I put up a 2nd one an added more nesting tubes.
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j.w
I Love my Goldies
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MoonShadows
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I have found out those butterfly bushes grow everywhere! They are popping up everywhere in my yard. A few I have to cut down, but the critters love them.