garden pollinator class lunch n learn right now.
Half the nations (commercial) bees are in california for February for the almond trees.
Here's an example why cultivars are not always as good as natives. The right most hydrangea has sterile show floresences, but not actual nectar for the bees. Brings them in, but then doesn't give them any food. The other one's shown have the infloresences that contain the actual food.
#plantnative
#themoreyouknow
honey bees are european. But if you want to support the native bee population, you really need to plant native flowers. You can have some non-native in your gardens for what you like, but I really encourage focusing on the native plants to help your biodiversity and the environment.
#plantnative
Thus ends today's pollinator posts of the class I was in. I have lots of resources if people are interested in more stuff for native planting and gardens.
@Kurtroedeger Locally there is a native plant center and we have picked quite a few plants that provide food and shelter for bees and butterflies. Right now, the passion fruit vine and the milkweed are covered in butterfly caterpillars; the heather is quite noisy with bees
more Native plant resources for Mid-atlantic region
https://mtcubacenter.org/research/trial-garden/
#plantnative