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Last Monday I went outside during the day to tidy up the garden and I noticed that there were bumble bees everywhere. The plants that they seemed to most enjoy were the balloon flowers and the raspberry plants. There must have been at least 50 bumble bees in my garden.
I’m allergic to bee stings, however I’m not overly fearful of the humble bumble bee. They seem to have fairly pleasant personalities. If I don’t bother them, it’s unlikely that they will bother me. The only time that I’m very cautious around them is in the evening. As any readers of this site knows, I tend to do a lot of my garden care in the evening. Well, that’s when the bumble bees take cover and decide to sleep on the underside of leaves or burrow into the ground for the night. Watering, dead heading or stupidly picking raspberries in the late evening can disturb them. So far I haven’t angered any of my dangerous little friends and I hope to keep it that way.
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Awww, bumble bees are so sweet. Like small bears you want to hug. Almost
Love the bumble bee. I too have to watch out for stings but all they do is swell the spot. I don’t drop dead or anything but hurt for several days! Your shot is just beautiful. And does it seem to you that there are more bees than ususal this year? Is this the balloon plant? I will have to do some research on it! It is very pretty!
I like the balloon flowers very much. Had a pot of them last year but they died on me. Are they perennials?
I am one of those people who could drop dead if I’m stung by a bee. I suppose some should say I shouldn’t be gardening at all, but I know bumble bees are generally even tempered. When I see hornets or wasps outside I stay clear of them.
Deb – yes Balloon flowers are perennials. They don’t like being moved once they are established. They grow in lovely clumps and reach approximately two to two and half feet in height. They will continue to produce flowers from about mid July well into autumn if they are dead headed regularly.
My Mom’s extremely allergic to bee stings too! She stops breathing so she has to carry some type of shot with her. Bumbles look so happy while they are busy working!
Beautiful Blue Balloon flowers!
Today Carl and I cut back all the dead heads of our balloon flowers. Ours are white. It is our third year for them.
This year I took all the little clumps of them and put them all together in a large designated area.
I did this with alot of my flowers this year.
I have enough plants to be able to reorganize them all.
I see what you mean about the bee.. and a purple flower too! I know it isn’t, but it looks like a native hibiscus we have here in Melbourne which I coincidentally have taken a shot of today. ( Will be posted over the coming weeks)