Bees, birds, butterflies, bats, beetles, and other insects are all important pollinators. We are in the midst of pollinator week — June 16 through June 22, 2014, so bee nice to our pollinators … Minimize (or void) the use of pesticides and plant native nectar plants.
Pictured above is one of our solitary native bees, the southern carpenter bee (Xylocopa micas) nectaring upon tropical sage (Salvia coccinea), an easy-to-grow native wildflower that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
European honeybees nectar our native plants, including beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), now in flower at the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area …
To learn more about bees, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Bee Basics
Bees are not as ‘sexy’ as butterflies like our Florida state butterfly, the zebra longwing which roosts communally as shown in this beautiful photo by Bob Montanaro.
Enjoy the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area 