Hasta

[Eric Bosworth]

I have a lot of hosta. I love it. It's hard to kill, grows like weeds, and has pretty flowers that bloom for a long time. I see all sorts of bumblebees working it but not honey bees. Does anyone know why not?

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[paus]

Probably same reason my girls didn't work my sunflowers but bumble bees did.  I think the bees have a mind of their own.  My wife still laughs when I say I need more bees so they will work the sunflowers.

[Eric Bosworth]

Probably same reason my girls didn't work my sunflowers but bumble bees did.  I think the bees have a mind of their own.  My wife still laughs when I say I need more bees so they will work the sunflowers.

My wife thinks I spend more time with the bees than I spend with her... I am just trying to build up my apiary with nucs like Michael Palmer. We will see what happens in the spring. I do smell honey when I walk by my hives. Always a good sign.

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[jalentour]

I don't think their tongues are long enough to harvest.
Same with honeysuckle.

[Eric Bosworth]

I don't think their tongues are long enough to harvest.
Same with honeysuckle.

I have seen bees on honeysuckle. But I think what you are saying is that we need to genetically modify bees so they have longer tongues...

[tjc1]

The only time I have seen honey bees on honeysuckle is after bumblebees have chewed an access hole at the base of the flower so that they can get right to the nectar - pretty cool to watch!

[Eric Bosworth]

Are there other varieties of honeysuckle that the bees can work? Maybe that is what I was seeing. I think my girls are working the goldenrod pretty good now. I can smell the honey when I walk by the hives.