November 5, 2014…On an unusually warm November day, I spotted these hebes growing in front of Bill Sweet Insurance Agency. The bees were loving it. Thanks, Bill.
While the east coast is getting hammered by the polar vortex cold weather, the west coast is enjoying warm sunny days into early November. At this time of year there are very few sources of nectar, so it’s good that the honeybees are getting a lot from the hebes. Nectar provides an important energy source (carbohydrate) for the bees.
Many thanks to Steve Montana who has let me use his musical talents as background to the video. “GaelaMae On The Bluffs” was written by Steve and the banjo music was written by Buell Kasey back in the late 1800’s. Watch Steve Montana play banjo at the beginning of Sustainable World. Click on “Soldier’s Joy.”
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 
The he bee might be doing all the work, but even I know it is the she bee that is the important one.
You’re right, the she bee is the important one. That’s a fact in other species as well. A fact that my wife will certainly agree with. 🙂
My husband and I are preparing to have bees next year and have heard that it’s a good idea to have something around blooming all of the time. I see the lovely flowers you have and it’s early November, but – what in the world blooms in December, January and February? BTW – the comment above by ladysighs is hilarious!
Around here, ivy blooms into December. It’s a great nectar and pollen source if it’s not raining. (note: I never ‘saw’ ivy until a beekeeper from the UK told me to look for it) It’s all over the place!
I’m not sure where you live in Northern CA, but Vernon lives in Klamath and he has Myrtlewood (also called Pepperwood) trees that bloom in January. https://solarbeez.com/2013/05/23/vernons-perone-hive/ (He mentions that in the January 26 update)
If by chance the turnips didn’t amount to much when you planted them in July, but you were lazy and let them go to seed instead of pulling them out…then the bees can enjoy the blossoms in January.
https://solarbeez.com/2014/02/12/bees-enjoy-winter-turnip-flowers-and-more/
This year we planted turnips with that in mind. Most of the seedlings died, so when I was looking for a place to put fresh crab shell, that’s where I buried it. A few turnips that were left, grew BIG. We ate ’em. We only have one or two turnips left to go to seed this year. Next year we plant more!
Now, this just makes me wish I was a honey bee, spending my days hovering around sun-warmed plants! Seriously, when we’re not deep in winter we love to observe bees on various flowering ground cover and plants. This is a good reminder to make sure we keep adding to our flowering stock.
Adding more bee-loving flowers? Your bees will love you. 🙂