Posts Tagged: pollen

Tower of Jewels: Christmas in May?

Christmas in May? When it's in full bloom, the aptly named "tower of jewels," Echium wildpretii, which can tower as high as 10 feet, looks...

Honey bees can't get enough of the tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. The plant yields both nectar and pollen. The pollen is blue. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bees can't get enough of the tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. The plant yields both nectar and pollen. The pollen is blue. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee peers through the blossoms of the tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee peers through the blossoms of the tower of jewels, Echium wildpretii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

I Am Honey Bee; Hear Me Roar

Honey bees have nothing on the late Helen Reddy (Oct. 25, 1941-Sept. 29, 2020), an Australian-born singer who roared like a lion: "I am woman,...

A honey bee heads for the lion's tail, Leonotis leonurus, in Vacaville, Calif. on a sunny day in December.

A honey bee heads for the lion's tail, Leonotis leonurus, in Vacaville, Calif. on a sunny day in December.

Ahh, just what this worker was looking for. The plant meets her needs and the needs of her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Ahh, just what this worker was looking for. The plant meets her needs and the needs of her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Word spreads that the lion's tail is the "place to bee." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Word spreads that the lion's tail is the "place to bee." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This pollen-packing honey bee is oblivious to everything but her plant, the lion's tail. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This pollen-packing honey bee is oblivious to everything but her plant, the lion's tail. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Pollen Power Reigns Supreme

You may have lost track of the hours, days, weeks and months due to the coronavirus pandemic, but how can you forget National Pollinator...

A honey bee dusted with pollen from the blanket flower, Gaillardia, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee dusted with pollen from the blanket flower, Gaillardia, in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey Bees Just Lovin' the Mustard

The things we overlook are the things we should look for. Take mustard and honey bees. You've seen mustard thriving in fields, but have you ever...

Packing a heavy load of pollen, a honey bee heads for a mustard blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Packing a heavy load of pollen, a honey bee heads for a mustard blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Touchdown! A honey bee reaches a mustard blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Touchdown! A honey bee reaches a mustard blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee on top of her world--a mustard blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee on top of her world--a mustard blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Heading home--a honey bee leaves a mustard patch to share her bounty with her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Heading home--a honey bee leaves a mustard patch to share her bounty with her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

'Bee-ing' There at the Dixon May Fair

"You can learn a lot from these displays," a fairgoer at the 144th annual Dixon May Fair commented. She was looking at an educational display with...

Dixon 4-H'er Ryan Anenson of the Tremont 4-H Club created this award-winning educational display, "None of Your Beeswax" for the Dixon May Fair. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dixon 4-H'er Ryan Anenson of the Tremont 4-H Club created this award-winning educational display, "None of Your Beeswax" for the Dixon May Fair. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dixon 4-H'er Madeline Giron sketched this color pencil drawing of a bee, on display in the Youth Building (Denverton Hall) at the Dixon May Fair. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Dixon 4-H'er Madeline Giron sketched this color pencil drawing of a bee, on display in the Youth Building (Denverton Hall) at the Dixon May Fair. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This photo by Markus Taliaferro of the Suisun Valley 4-H Club shows a honey bee sipping nectar.

This photo by Markus Taliaferro of the Suisun Valley 4-H Club shows a honey bee sipping nectar.

Just add pollinators! Katelyn Nipper of Fairfield created this innovative illustration of brightly color flowers and crayons.

Just add pollinators! Katelyn Nipper of Fairfield created this innovative illustration of brightly color flowers and crayons.

Read more