Living with Bumble Bees

John Whittlesey

Thursday, November 12th
7:00pm–8:00pm

View the presentation below.

In my garden, bumble bees are the most charismatic of the pollinating insects. Beginning in early spring with the emergence of queens looking to begin new colonies, bumble bees are a big part of my everyday garden life until the waning days of summer. I have been photographing, observing, and learning about flower visitors of all kinds for over a decade. In 2018, I expanded the gardened areas of my rural canyon property, where my longtime nursery once stood, with a series of berms specifically planted for the attraction and support of pollinators. These pollinator berms have increased each year and as they have increased, so too has the presence of bumble bees. This spring we had 5 species of queen bumble bees on the property! Daily and seasonal interaction with bumble bees has opened my eyes to their life history – some of which I’ve been fortunate to witness. Because of this increased awareness of the lives of bumble bees I’ve become more deeply connected to the property I’ve lived with for 35 years.

In this talk I will share photos taken from my homestead of bumble bee inhabitants while weaving a discussion of their life history along with anecdotes of ‘living with bumble bees,’ ending the talk with plants to plant if you too would like to invite bumble bees to live in your garden.

About John Whittlesey:
I am a nurseryman, garden designer, and author who has spent the last ten years designing and installing climate appropriate gardens with the purpose of attracting more wildlife into the garden. My first book, The Plant Lovers Guide to Salvias, was published by Timber Press in 2014.  “I’m a strong believer that we become more connected to our garden spaces when our gardens become more than just pretty places, and rather are vibrant habitats where birds and insects thrive.”  Being semi-retired, I am now able to spend more time on my 10-acre homestead enjoying the richness around me, photographing, celebrating and sharing this diversity with others.