Monday, July 4, 2011

Where are the bumblebees?

My jade plant is just as gorgeous as it was last year.
Its little flower heads are pink and open. They are  putting out a soft, sweet fragrance. They're just hanging out, ready to be pollinated.
But where are the bumble bees?
Last year it was smothered with them. Bumble bees, being fat and fury, are great pollinators, because they pick up so much pollen.
They were introduced to New Zealand in 1885 to help the spread of red clover in the Canterbury fields of the South Island.
But they have some other gourmet tastes as well, and are eager to fly in and work any other attractive flowers.
My jade plant is the right colour. It's still gorgeous. They loved it last year. So where are they now?

Try this link if you'd like to watch a bumble bee in action (sigh).

http://youtu.be/zMJnwCUO76o

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm amazed that you have flowers in winter. Your jade is beautiful, Juliet. I can stand and watch bumblebees do their work for the longest time and caught some big ones having a grand time on some roses yesterday.
I hope you find yours soon. Best.

Juliet said...

Glad to hear that the bumblebees are thriving in the midwest, Penny. I too was surprised when the jade plant flowered last winter as I'd never seen that before.

Lynley said...

Sadly the bumble bees are absent here too Juliet. This sudden dip into winter may have sent them to seek out warmth in a colony perhaps?

Juliet said...

How interesting that the bumble bees are missing in Porirua as well, Lynley. I thought that the warmth of June would have encouraged them, as last year they were everywhere in mid June. Maybe someone will have the answer.