A Celebration of Bees on Camas

 

 

Let's start with this beautiful Andrena mining bee collecting pollen on camas at the Garry Oak Learning Garden in Fort Rodd Hill.

 

I saw many yellow-headed bumble bee queens nest searching and drinking nectar in camas in Beacon Hill Park and Uplands. This is one of the most common bumble bee species seen in Victoria.

Interesting to see this Nomada cuckoo bee hunkered down on a camas blossom when the day turned a bit cooler.

Blue orchard mason bees really seem to love camas nectar, diving right into the centre of the flowers.

So wonderful to see the little bumble bee workers drinking nectar and showing off their full pollen baskets.

Here's an adorable camas hugging Andrena with lighter coloration in Beacon Hill Park.

I also witnessed a little Bombus mixtus worker sipping nectar and then gathering pollen from the stamens.

 A thirsty Bombus flavifrons in the Garry Oak Learning Garden.

This Bombus californicus had pollen in her baskets too.

 

This B. californicus was gathering pollen in Uplands Park.

 

So grateful for the opportunity to see and hear the bees in the camas in spring.