Posts Tagged: lupine

The Flight of the Bumble Bee

Early scientists figured it was aerodynamically impossible for bumble bees to fly due to their size, weight and shape of their bodies in relation to...

Packing red pollen from lupine, Lupinus arboreus, a yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, heads toward more blossoms at Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Packing red pollen from lupine, Lupinus arboreus, a yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, heads toward more blossoms at Doran Regional Park, Bodega Bay. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Scientists used to think that the flight of the bumble bee was aerodynamically impossible. But nobody told the bumble bee it couldn't fly! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Scientists used to think that the flight of the bumble bee was aerodynamically impossible. But nobody told the bumble bee it couldn't fly! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The end? A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, heads back to her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The end? A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, heads back to her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Learning About Native Bees with The Experts

Oh, what a treasure to bee-hold! If you've ever visited UC Berkeley's Hastings Natural History Reserve in the upper Carmel Valley, Monterey County,...

A yellow-faced bumble bee nectaring on vetch in May 2015 at Hastings Natural History Reserve. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee nectaring on vetch in May 2015 at Hastings Natural History Reserve. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, heads for vetch at the Hastings Natural History Reserve. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, heads for vetch at the Hastings Natural History Reserve. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenkii, is a whirl of anticipation as it nears lupine at the Hastings Natural History Reserve. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenkii, is a whirl of anticipation as it nears lupine at the Hastings Natural History Reserve. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Blue sky, vetch, a yellow-faced bumbe bee and all's right with the world. This photo was taken in May 2015 at the Hastings Natural History Reserve. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Blue sky, vetch, a yellow-faced bumble bee and all's right with the world. This photo was taken in May 2015 at the Hastings Natural History Reserve. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Loving the Lupine

It's a given: Honey bees love lupine. We watched them buzzing around a flower patch of blue (lupine) and gold (California poppies) today along...

A honey bee heads for lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee heads for lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee with a huge pollen load. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee with a huge pollen load. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Saddlebags? No, a heavy load of pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Saddlebags? No, a heavy load of pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Wild Blue Yonder

Sometimes you see honey bees "making a beeline." Such was the case when this honey bee (below) encountered a native wildflower, blue lupine...

Honey bee heading for blue lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee heading for blue lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee touches down on "the landing strip" of a blue lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee touches down on "the landing strip" of a blue lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee, wings a soft blur, makes a beeline for a lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee, wings a soft blur, makes a beeline for a lupine. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Yellow Face and Red Saddlebags

The yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) may be one of the most underappreciated pollinators. You see it buzzing around lavender, lupine,...

Foraging Bumble Bee

FORAGING-A worker bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, gathers nectar from mustard (Brassica) at Bodega Bay. The pollen is from lupine (Lupinus), which does not provide nectar, notes native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor at UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Saddlebags

SADDLEBAGS--This yellow-faced bumble bee at Bodega Bay is packing pollen from lupine (Lupinus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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