Information resource for bees

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Can anyone tell me if there is any good information out there (books or internet) concerning which flowers different bee species prefer?

Sorry if this is a very specific request. When I visit garden centres I pick up plants that the bees are visiting the flowers of. When I plant these I find that the bees ignore them (and my garden) and fly over the fence to elsewhere. I find this frustrating yet fascinating. I want to identify the bee species (complete novice here) and then I want to study the types of flower each prefers and why (for fun as well as practical purposes).

My frustration was compounded this afternoon. A raspberry plant was already in my garden and just coming into flower. Bees have now appeared out of nowhere (Buff-tailed Bumblebees I think) and started visiting the flowers. I must have wasted pounds, when I could have waited. But then again, I always think I could be doing more, if I had the right knowledge.

Ta!

[Geoff F]

If you really want to learn about bumblebees I would suggest Field Guide to Bumblebees of Great Britain & Ireland by Mike Edwards & Martin Jenner. There is a revised edition available now.

This will give you a lot of background information with ID tips and other useful details like a month by month list of the best plants. Not exactly a bargain bucket price but not overly expensive and I found it to be good value.

There are quite a number of basic bumblebee guides available for free, or very cheap, at most garden centres or on the internet.

But any plants with nectar rich flowers will attract bees if they find your general garden layout to be to their liking. I would say the most important thing is don't be over tidy and leave some undisturbed areas for nest sites, etc.

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Thanks for your reply Geoff.

The more I think about it, the more I do feel I need to start at the beginning with these critters . They are a puzzle to me. They do have undisturbed areas if they want them. I'm building a log pile, and there is a huge pile of small sticks. And a bank under bramble.

Maybe I can ID the ones that fly over my plot, I can request more specific info. as to their requirements.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Bev

[Geoff F]

There is a site for bumblebee conservation which may prove useful Bumblebee identification page - learn how to identify the UK's bumblebees

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Thank you Geoff, I had seen that site (I remember getting confused with the pollen basket diagrams). It is useful but also generates more questions, and no doubt I will be starting a new thread or two!

I notice that from the "flowers for bumblebees - March-April" section I have all but 4 of those plants growing, and still the bees don't tend to linger. Only the Lamium spp. in my garden reliably attracts any bees during that time period (so these are to be encouraged next year).

And down the road, in a grotty back alley, I found self-seeded Blue Alkanet happily attracting bees. So that's going to be sown next year if I can get hold of the seed.

I will give everything more consideration. One thing I have noticed - more moths - I like to console myself that it might have been something I planted.

[paulinemiller10]

I am always looking for plants for bumblebees Back, and have done the same thing, watch which plants they are visiting in garden centres, and then find mine don't like them, but I think its because they are just not used to that plant so don't try it out, I have plants for every month, and always adding, but lost a lot last winter that are not easy to replace, so I m growing runner beans,peas and broad beans in pots for the summer, they will replace the fuschia's they like to feed on that flower all summer, it is the very plain hardy fuschia, they don't seem to like the fancy types, posting pic, nice to see someone else getting slowly hooked on bumblebees. Pauline.

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Originally Posted by paulinemiller10

I am always looking for plants for bumblebees Back, and have done the same thing, watch which plants they are visiting in garden centres, and then find mine don't like them, but I think its because they are just not used to that plant so don't try it out, I have plants for every month, and always adding, but lost a lot last winter that are not easy to replace, so I m growing runner beans,peas and broad beans in pots for the summer, they will replace the fuschia's they like to feed on that flower all summer, it is the very plain hardy fuschia, they don't seem to like the fancy types, posting pic, nice to see someone else getting slowly hooked on bumblebees. Pauline.

So glad I'm not the only one this happens to, Pauline.

I'm growing peas for food, very pleased that you recommend legumes as bees will be a very welcome bonus.

I also read Viper's Bugloss is a plant to try as all sorts of bees, including ones with short and long tongues, will visit these.

Bev

[Hedera]

I have Purple toadflax self-seeding all over the garden, all the bees love it, and worked on it last summer right to the last tip flowers. It's very dainty and looks pretty. If it's in a sensible place I just leave it.

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Good idea for a garden plant, Hedera.

[Africa]

The 'Garden Centre' effect is most likely due to the fact that plants in garden centers are many together, and that's what bees prefer, lots of flowers all together. You will find out that when your plants get bigger or are at the best of their blooming you will see more bees visiting. Also pay attention to the aspect. Bees prefer plants in full sun. Happy beewatching!