Carol DM
Surprised yesterday in Dustin’s garden. I noticed this purple bloom on my “Black Knight Butterfly” plant. The blooms are a dark purple. I was glad to see there are still a few blooms in the middle of October.
I was taking a photo of the bloom and noticed a bumble bee underneath. He was moving pretty slow. I guess he is getting ready for the winter hibernation.
Learned some trivia about the bumblebee…
Bumble bees do not maintain colonies throughout the winter. Instead, the last brood of the summer colony will contain a number of queens. Each of these queens will mate and then find a safe nesting place in which to spend the winter. This is usually just a small hole in the ground or another protected spot just big enough for her. Only the queen bumble bees hibernate until spring. The rest of the colony dies.
Sharing with today’s Macro Monday challenge.
©CarolDM2019
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Question of
Did you know honey bees do not hibernate?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
And bumblebees hibernate through the winter, pretty cool right?
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Yes
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No
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I don’t know a lot about bees or bumble bees but I like them beautiful bumblebee and flowers
Thanks for the information and sharing a great picture.
some of those can get pretty big
That matches your lantana, kind of. Darker of course but the same shade. So beautiful. Mine still had blooms too. Does your white one? And about the bumble bees, you taught me something. Interesting.
Yes this plant has done so good this is the first year. I was surprised at the blooms so soon. Yes I still have a few whole ones too.
Nature has so much to share. We have to open our eyes, open our hearts and let outdoors in!
Absolutely Doc. I do this almost every single day.
But you also get kudos because you share that with the rest of us!!!!
Sharing is part of the process. Very rewarding.
We’ve had quite a few bumblebees in our neighborhood. We usually get more honeybees because a nearby restaurant has an apiary on its roof but not this year.
I rarely see honey bees but welcome them all in the garden.
I’m torn about honeybees. They are great pollinators but they are also an invasive species in the USA.
You capture bees as well as you capture raindrops on flowers.
Thanks but I didn’t see the bee until I snapped the bloom. Surprise!
The queen is lucky though it’s understandable what her tasks are. It’s quite interesting to have learned this from your post.
I am always amazed at nature. Always something new to learn.
I have only seen this on our blue trumpet.
Thanks again for your visit and comment!
Oops, the comment disappeared I was replying too.
Our garden is being visited by honeybees every day. I don’t know where they are coming from.
I see bumbles more often than honey bees. Someone may have bee hives nearby.
Lucky you if you can find someone who raises bees. You could have local honey!
Wonderful picture and interesting information. I didn’t know that.
Thanks, I love learning about nature.
Wonderful macro image, dear friend
Thanks dear Lado, a quick snap with my phone.
Even with the phone you can make great pictures … I take pictures with my phone
Stunning photo and some education with this.
Thanks Bradley, I thought is was interesting trivia about or friend the bumblebee.
I still find it sad that the rest have to die … 😐
But oh well…
Nice photo btw!
I know, the butterflies only live days and sometimes a couple of weeks. Except for the monarch. They migrate south for the winter.
I see … its actually quite interesting …
there are things that work and live different from us!
I learn something new about nature all the time in my backyard.