I went to the lottie again today and we had some sunshine. These early birds were out foraging my crocuses.
It's too early for that here. I haven't even seen a crocus or a daffidal or a tulip yet though there are pots of them in the garden centers.
Great photos Sjoerd...the bees look so alive in the photos...I am patiently waiting for my gardens to come alive...maybe in a month or more...
Our crocuses are just about ready to burst into full bloom. I can hardly wait to see the first bees back in the garden again.
Thanks so much, CAROLYN--when do you expect to see yours? Thank you Jane--Have you seen yours already? Oh dear, DOOLEY--Fingers crossed for you. Thank you for your comment, SHERRY--I hope that it is soon warm there. Too right, EILEEN--seeing them really does give me a very good feeling too. I hope that you will be able to get your bees this year. DROOPY-- it always begins with snowdrops here as well. I hope that you will have some sun and warmth up there...it was sunny here all day long.
Sjoerd, our bees are out and about throughout the winter. If the day is relatively mild--above 45 degrees--and if there is anything at all to forage, they are out. We try to keep something in bloom all year around for the bees, but there are "down" times when nothing is blossoming. They just stay at home and eat their stored honey during the down times.
Crocus is one bulb that is missing in my garden. I'll rectify that this fall. I get several different kinds of bees in my yard. I see the pollen sacs on their legs but I have no idea what kind they are. Some are darker colored and smaller, while some look similar to yours, and some are very small, and then we also have the bumble bee also. I need to take some pictures of them so maybe some of you can Identify them.
Yeah, of course JANE--Living in TX the winter temps would be warmer there than here. Say 2OF--would you be able to take some macro foto's of all those little bee sorts in your garden? It sounds like you may also have some solitary bees visiting your plants. Crocuses really DO brighten up your garden first thing in the spring. I plant more every year, as well as dig up and separate clumps. I like the yellows and purples ...also the blueish ones and the tricolor's...but there are all sorts. If crocuses are new to you I would get several different sorts and plant them in small groups of 3 or 4 and see what does best on your property. Being in Idaho, you may be able to grow saffron crocuses. Wanna try that? http://www.gardenstew.com/threads/growing-saffron-crocuses.12543/ You can even harvest and dry the stigma's, which is the same saffron used in cooking.
we still have melting snow, though it's almost gone, I was told that we would have a pretty warm summer this year :O I want to start my box garden up before i start planting again, but I just haven't had the time, energy or resources >.< but yay for early birds and bees!!
