Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Beautiful Okanagan Bees


While on holiday to the Okanagan I saw this  beautiful bee in the garden at Poplar Grove Winery. Wineries that plant pollinator and/or insectary gardens are my favorite because it breaks up the monoculture of the acres of grape vines. These gardens also provide beneficial insects that help make healthier grapes, even though they are pollinated by wind and gravity. As I guessed, there was an abundance of ground-nesting bees.


A highlight of the trip was the Summerland Xeriscape Garden where we made mental notes on which plants were functioning well with minimal water while feeding the bees. This is a cuckoo bee on Heliopsis.


Golden rod and milkweed make good companions and attract beneficial wasps.


In other gardens, spirea supported bumblebees.


There were many turquoise sweat bees, especially in this weed. The bees circled round and round the stamens collecting pollen.


Syrphid flies also visited these small white flowers.


 Gaillardia is an important drought tolerant flower and Perovskia is used in many gardens as well.


We'll need to continue to look to the Okanagan to choose hardy plants that perform well in dry summers.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Mountainview Cemetery Meadow by the Antler Collective


Jack Tupper and Antler Collective have planted meadows all over Vancouver to study pollinators and the public's reaction to various kinds of meadows in public spaces. The meadow at Mountainview Cemetery is in bloom right now at 37th ave between Main and Fraser.


I found it touching and inspiring to see this vital planting in the graveyard.


 With every flutter, pulse and buzz, bees give us the message to live our lives diving into beauty.


Creating corridors of these meadows could provide valuable links among the network of backyard gardens in this neighborhood.