tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929448677986593408.post9087998014086829688..comments2023-08-30T15:35:52.807-05:00Comments on Plano Prairie Garden: Bees on the PrairieMichael - Plano Prairie Gardenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10288991916201553454noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929448677986593408.post-41097422170977751162010-12-23T11:43:48.338-06:002010-12-23T11:43:48.338-06:00After I installed a prairie garden at a friend'...After I installed a prairie garden at a friend's Austin home several years ago, I would sit and watch the pollinators, not knowing what I was looking at. I noticed that each of the two main grasses I planted, Little Bluestem and Sideoats Grama, had their own individual pollinators - the insects that flew to the Little Bluestem flowers had no interest in the Sideoats Grama flowers and vice versa.deanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10918376599053837764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929448677986593408.post-27052424144027393492010-12-16T21:19:36.491-06:002010-12-16T21:19:36.491-06:00Thanks Kim. I will look for that book.
Thanks for...Thanks Kim. I will look for that book.<br /><br />Thanks for the comment, THTL. Wasps can be a little menacing, especially around their nests. Wasps do help control spiders and caterpillars. Unfortunately, they like to pick off all of my swallowtail caterpillars.Michael - Plano Prairie Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10288991916201553454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929448677986593408.post-75779778187332712302010-12-16T18:57:56.357-06:002010-12-16T18:57:56.357-06:00These pictures are absolutely beautiful! So many n...These pictures are absolutely beautiful! So many non-gardeners look upon bees as pests, but they couldn't be more mistaken! <br /><br />Wasps are pretty scary, but they're fascinating creatures. I prefer to admire them from afar! Very afar!THTLhttp://trees360.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929448677986593408.post-60188789773778770272010-12-15T23:43:22.763-06:002010-12-15T23:43:22.763-06:00Michael, Kathleen, and Lancashire Rose,
There are ...Michael, Kathleen, and Lancashire Rose,<br />There are a couple of bee ID books coming out in the first quarter (I hope) of 2011. Gordon Frankie and Robin Thorpe have a book that is just about ready and should be useful for Texans, even tho it's about CA bees. If you haven't seen Gordon's website, go take a look at it. http://nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens/<br />As soon as their book is out, I'll post on the Texas Bee Watchers website (www.beewatchers.com) so just check back every once in a while. Enjoy watching your bees, Kim Bacon (Texas Bee Watchers)Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02239872635844969219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929448677986593408.post-37964532275031590052010-12-14T23:03:19.110-06:002010-12-14T23:03:19.110-06:00Hi Kathleen. I exchanged a few emails with Kim at ...Hi Kathleen. I exchanged a few emails with Kim at Texas Bee Watchers and she says bees can be difficult to identify. She says she has to view them under a scope for an accurate ID. Of course, I was calling every large bee a bumble bee and it turns out that is not correct. I need to get a good bug book.<br /><br />You need to get some snow on the prairie. It is sure to attract bees and other pollinators. There is a similar plant called snow on the mountain as well. <br /><br />It has been dry around here lately. Let’s hope we are in for another bout with the dreaded "D" word.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by Lancashire Rose. I check your blog on a regular basis.<br /><br />The only time I have been stung by a bee in my garden was when a bee landed on my arm and I brushed at it without paying attention. I let them get on about their work and they let me get on about my work.<br /><br />I am planning to build a mason bee house this winter. The Bee Watchers site has some great information.Michael - Plano Prairie Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10288991916201553454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929448677986593408.post-28819710034598249832010-12-14T14:29:34.417-06:002010-12-14T14:29:34.417-06:00I loved walking through your prairie garden. No wo...I loved walking through your prairie garden. No wonder you have plenty of bees visit. It's a paradise for them. I have never been stung by a bee. I work among them all the time in my garden. Wasps are a different matter. Those darned paper wasps c=have caused me some misery. We put up a mason/wood bee house this year- no visitors yet. I think we were a little late.Rock rose https://www.blogger.com/profile/00348711150803587369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7929448677986593408.post-38444545260310895222010-12-14T11:45:53.827-06:002010-12-14T11:45:53.827-06:00Thanks for this post! I've seen a number of di...Thanks for this post! I've seen a number of different bees in our gardens but hadn't taken the time to figure them out. Our gardens are bee-havens too and I'm going to apply for certification and then publicize. Our bee population was hard hit by the epic drought and can use all the help it can get--which helps all of us.<br /><br />Your gardens are gorgeous, a joy to visit. I remember saying I wanted the snow plant but didn't do anything about it. Glad you repeated the pictures.Kathleen Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10868566314392048880noreply@blogger.com