There are many species of tiny bees collectively called ~ solitary bees.
Before we began keeping honey bees I never even noticed these cute little solitary bees. They can pollinate teeny tiny flowers, as well as, large sunflowers. Notice the bright yellow pollen collected on their back legs.
When sunflowers get to this point, I cover the sunflower head with an onion bag to keep the finches from stealing all the seed. The bag allows the individual seeds time to dry out.
I grow sunflowers for their beauty, a source of summer nectar and pollen for our honey bees, seeds for our parrots, and the grandchildren love them! My favorite part is watching all the pollinators visiting these beautiful flowers. Their sunny faces make a perfect landing strip for a pollinators' party . . . Over at Julie's!!!
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A pollen party! How fabulous. I love these photos. xx
ReplyDeleteHi Fi!
DeleteThanks for visiting! I love sunflowers! Fortunately where we live I can grow them most of the year. Wish I was tiny so I could join in the fun ;^)
I remember reading that Native Americans used to dry them upside down so that they became convex in shape, allowing a greater harvest of seeds. Probably they left some for the mischievous Crows...
ReplyDeleteHi Anne,
DeleteI cover my sunflowers with woven onion bags to keep the finches from harvesting all my seeds. I have found that after the bees stop visiting, it's time to cover them. I don't let them dry out completely on the plant. I like to cut them off after a couple of weeks, trim off the outer green leaves from around the flower head. I even pull the back off the sunflower, and then let them complete their drying on the back porch table. It makes removing the dry seeds so much easier on my fingers and there is so much less dry and prickly mess to remove from the harvested seeds.
Thanks for visiting and for your comment!