Bombus – Living With, and the Natural History of - Bumble Bees
November 16, 2023
7:00 – 8:00 PM (Via Zoom)
John Whittlesey
Canyon Creek Nursery & Design
View the presentation here.
Bumble bees are among the most charismatic, noticeable (visible and audible!), as well as critically important pollinating insects. We see them in our gardens and in a wide range of natural landscapes from coastal bluffs to alpine meadows where they pollinate a wide diversity of flowers.
The 2023 season brought 6 species of bumble bees to my rural property! Beginning in early spring with the emergence of queens looking to begin new colonies, bumble bees are a big part of my everyday homestead life from these first sightings in spring through to the waning days of early fall.
In this talk I will share photos taken over the last 8 years of bumble bees 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.
I am a nurseryman, garden designer, and author (Plant Lover’s Guide to Salvias) who has spent the last ten years designing and installing climate appropriate gardens with the purpose of attracting more wildlife into people’s beautiful, and floriferous gardens. I’m a strong believer that we become more connected to our garden spaces when our gardens become more than just pretty places, but 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.