Posted in Bee to Flower relationship, Bee Video, Bee-loving flowers, Bumblebees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Music video, Natural Beekeeping, Oregon Grape-Holly, Videos on December 16, 2014| 12 Comments »
Since mid November this giant Oregon Grape Holly, (mahonia aquifolium) has been blooming and it’s likely to keep blooming into January the way the weather has been. Most people can’t believe it, but I’m happy to see so many of my bees getting nourishment from it. How do I know they’re mine? I’m sure I recognized them. 🙂
Posted in Bee-loving flowers, Bumblebees, Hummingbirds, Music video, Natural Beekeeping, Oregon Grape-Holly, Videos, tagged bee-loving flowers, bees on Oregon Coast, bumblebees, honey bees, macro nature video, Mahonia aquifolium, natural beekeeping, Oregon Grape-Holly, Wild pollinators, Yellow-faced Bumble Bee on November 27, 2013| 12 Comments »
Oregon Grape-Holly blooming in late November
Most visitors to the post office go to get their mail. These visitors go to get nectar. The Oregon Grape Holly is in full bloom, offering nectar and nectar is what they got. Honeybees, bumblebees, even a couple of green hummingbirds partake in the feast.
What is the importance of nectar?  My Biodiversity Garden states “Nectar is the fuel for our pollinators such as solitary bees, bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, moths and bats. It is the only source of energy and without it, the pollinators cannot fly. Nectar is secreted by nectaries within the flower.”
According to Dave’s Gardens Mahonia Aquifolium blooms in mid spring. This is late November! The plant is growing against a brick wall, facing south, during an unseasonably dry autumn. In any case, the wild pollinators love it.
November 24th…This honeybee is getting nectar from an early blooming Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia Aquifolium)
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 