Native bee returning from getting the nectar in a Canna Lily tunnel.

#gardening
#GardenPhotography
#NativePollinators

Went out to my garden, designed to support pollinators, to see who was visiting. Saw
* a Fruit Fly with the signature red eyes
* a Sweat Bee and
* a Metallic Green Sweat Bee

#NativePollinators #Pollinators
#gardening #biodiversity

Bee Balm blooming now, with a native polinator.

#Plants #Bloom #nativepollinators #Bees

Black berries soon, elderberries soonish, and the milkweed is doing great.

#WildFruits #NativePlants #NativeFlowers #Wildflowers #SilentSunday #NativePollinators #Bloomscrolling #Florespondence

So often we see #flowers here, but not #NativePollinators. Here is an example of a non-aggressive solitary wasp on a Black-Eyed Susan, who is not trying to be scary, thank you very much.

Probably Ancistrocerus antilope. You can see them all over the unburned areas of U.S. and Canada. Here's the thing: they nest in hollow twigs and similar spots, so you can help them by putting out those bee houses with the many small cylinders. Now you know.

#biodiversity #environment #ecology #gardening

A beautiful little Andrena bee working away in a new wild rose blossom.

Show some 💕 for your local #NativePollinators.

Australia is in a unique position to eliminate the bee-killing Varroa mite. Here’s what happens if we don’t
https://theconversation.com/australia-is-in-a-unique-position-to-eliminate-the-bee-killing-varroa-mite-heres-what-happens-if-we-dont-205926

Interesting article about Varroa mite, and what is at stake for native pollinators, hobby/commercial beekeeping, and Australian agriculture that depends on them.

tl;dr: there are good reasons to remain positive about the future of Australian beekeeping and horticultural industries, but there is still much work for our research community to do.

#Bees #Beekeeping #NativePollinators #VarroaMite

#CrocusLawn update: Things are looking pretty good! Our front lawn is speckled in hundreds of these tiny, vibrant yellow and purple flowers. While they aren’t native, the #NativePollinators sure enjoy them.

Note the chicken wire… I put it down once I caught the squirrels digging up the freshly planted corms. They aren’t even supposed to like crocus! 😐

#SaveThePollinators #Crocus

What could be done in a place like NYC or elsewhere to make this even more impactful? Increase the percentage of #UrbanGreenSpaces and pervious surfaces by reducing #CarInfrastructure. Install #greenroofs Incentivize plantings that rely less on synthetic inputs and which support #NativePollinators and #birds. Recognize that we can build soil and store carbon even in urban settings. 3/3