Bumble Bees love the California Lilacs
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
Eugene, Oregon
May 23, 2018 2:04pm CST
While working a bit in the yard, I have noticed that the beautiful California Lilac bushes are in full bloom and that bumble bees are all over them. Large and small black ones with striped yellow tails and then this one called an "orange-belted bumble bee."
It is great to see these pollinators around since bees, especially honey bees are in danger due to pesticides and diseases. Unlike wasps, bees are not aggressive and will sting only in defense (Unless they are the Africanized honey bees that are quite aggressive and dangerous).
We have three of those lilac bushes and they are all attracting many bees.
12 people like this
12 responses
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
23 May 18
@JamesHxstatic not that I can tell James.I am sure there are and not aware of them?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 May 18
Yes, we have rosemary too and they love it as well.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
24 May 18
@JamesHxstatic The flowers are starting to bloom, I like the smell of the honeysuckle.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 May 18
@LadyDuck Yes and there is some jasmine that smells wonderful too.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159035)
• Boise, Idaho
23 May 18
Yes, good to see the bees still around. I am with the bees. Love the lilacs. They just don't stay around long enough. The lilacs that is.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159035)
• Boise, Idaho
23 May 18
@JamesHxstatic ......Oh, I see. I love them all. My daughter brings them into my room and I love the aroma.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 May 18
@celticeagle They do smell great!
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 May 18
This kind of lilac does not get as big as some of the others, so it is nice for a smaller space.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 May 18
Lilacs are beautiful for sure.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33351)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
24 May 18
@JamesHxstatic Agreed. I would love to have my own lilac bush someday.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16534)
• China
26 May 18
Your garden came alive as lilac bushes were swarming with all kinds of bees.I wonder if the bumble bees make honey.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16534)
• China
27 May 18
@JamesHxstatic It is interesting ! I have just looked up it online,it says the bumble bees often plunder honeybees' honey.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
26 May 18
Good question, I looked up some info. Honeybees have colonies with thousands of bees in them, while bumble bees may be only around a hundred in the colony. They make something like honey, but not in much quantity. They are fascinating to read about.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
27 May 18
@changjiangzhibin89 That is interesting.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 May 18
Oh yes, we have one on the side of the house and it gets lots of visits.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 May 18
Thank you! It took a bunch of shots to get one I could see.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
23 May 18
Another sign spring has arrived.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 May 18
I took about 20 shots or more trying to capture an image you can see. They do not spend any time sitting on a blossom.
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
26 May 18
I was right in the midst of them taking photos and they ignored me. Yellow Jacket wasps are the scary ones for me.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
31 May 18
@JamesHxstatic Used to have to deal with yellow jackets all the time in pest control. They could be quite aggressive. You had to really watch what they were doing when you started pumping dusts into their nest.
1 person likes this
