![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqeq3yL4tnUB_70kXRi5rbLR8aAKeRDErkVXuDGCwDicnlDuIgGqQk1ONtNRZAKEKnoJp9iZqSqDDsBCg3gkHUBs6hvchLwm-dKS5a6TEKO_msawKgWPMakdQ2z5tx8VFYmVwe0K5nsJm/s400/blackpoppybee.jpg)
As much as I love the color and form of these black peony poppies, I don't think they are great bee plants. The poor bees spend a lot of energy foraging in the frills. This poppy above is a lot less frilly than its compadres, perhaps reverting back to its no-frill genes. This is actually better for the bees because they have easier access to the pollen. I will tag this pod and make a note to see if these seeds bear this trait next year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUsR4H-rLAqUKDeAoantPwgHBEbyyN_C_Pv_6pUUj_4BgvcDieNeFm1JyuM605emLmO7LF2bIeIdVtgUqH7cvNZ_Xrju9p0SGayGHFqYs009hw6hsRxSoR2OQk7IhiNAwKPgNEj9M6vKj/s400/pokybee.jpg)
I can just feel the frustration of the bee above, getting lost in the petticoats of that poppy.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiGC6jB-3YmpS4Tb_BxJNie84DSw_joSO7_c-O47rsFZcpkKBEWYmRaRV1wQK1wWGfhApIin-ZI4wbH-7N0iZJ_s0NqoNEEBgk6IZ3eiPM3xpKIi4fkXiIUiKmDa5aPqM-2d2ja2JlAv0/s400/cornflowertiny.jpg)
Here's a tiny visit to the cornflowers today.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginhjWh_BUhvvlTK_adb-y0pTNWnazgdWxTjSIi8pXcKwoY9OlmpsM9GiC4mUYXD5UfRbBEFxcFg7Gm7aaamfeem0S2qmnFC-JWGqurq1xN3YyPqCrXKdhEfs9at8B_BaRzLFnfe69ZQW4/s400/bumblemallow.jpg)
I've seen lots of these bright yellow bombus this year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iyae7QRbd0NwVABWbzBXMo1wJ7ci7fzKXTfJHN8BoK9Oh1aboXV1mfuw7l2PDnWXB87d6Uku_dAvtDmi5xPnPnU15Kf3Gsj0lYZszgmH0tWMMONX0L8JxwsjzyHO83Lc9OwiQyyM6ACY/s400/geraniumnectarguides.jpg)
I love the delicate nectar guides in these geraniums.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-7NDEQEzlEF-S_DjRa3p_CFrOfAaqzclv7obWTZf7yIJDzSZ0F9_pmZ9vKeB8XQ4fBzjHGoJcL0sRlhg5aRb1oULBaAaTCcMI8ym1nryyeeMikmX0VTcP_tytFQbFCJovxCbW_v5wzr4/s400/nasttiny.jpg)
So I realize I've got lots of shallow flowers and lots of these nasturtiums with deep nectar spurs, but not a lot of good nectar plants with mid-size nectaries. I'll have to do some research to remedy that gap.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8irc3C48kB6SFCGVfWLZJUnkxxIAcV7d3h7DjJ9R7a6Gk7JkrmaB3M62ESgfBCsBa16Ae7eOxfdBwSfBWwnonpZijIPHr3BOn5YGBQQbX0oUhpnDVpg2UbbIMbVI0O5Qj24S33_bpxO4/s400/syrphid.jpg)
Did the old lady who swallowed a fly ingest a syrphid fly, perhaps? "Dude, that's too deep for me, I just wanna hang out on this bean leaf and catch some sun."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgagP6qNElyFsSQNkRG5ik8gFG2ms7at6j7yX9UCnmxlhhE0fy6Fn4vktJ4A3znDmAkqLKCPPIaVD133tDMVGrBpVVONpdoMzHYAofvgb03Gblw-119iLwIPyMYUDbZ96BSRPHBHkd_Z6N/s400/syrphidcu.jpg)
California (poppy) dreamin'....
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