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Posts Tagged: rock purslane
Packing the Red Pollen
Ever seen a honey bee packing red pollen? Rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora) is one flower that yields red pollen. It's a drought-tolerant perennial, a succulent. But the most striking part is its color: a neon pink that could...
A honey bee packing red pollen as she visits another rock purslane blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A little adjustment of her pollen load and the honey bee reaches a rock purslane blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
'Tis the Season to Be 'In the Pink'
As the predominantly red-and-green holiday season draws to a close, and the year crawls to an end, it's time to "bee in the pink." Pink? Yes, "in the pink." Skip the red. Ignore the green. Think "in the pink." "In the pink" means to be in top form,...
A honey bee "in the pink" is foraging on a begonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee seeking a pink rockpurlane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee foraging on a pink zinnia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This honey bee is "in the pink"--foraging on a pink oxalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
What's not to like about a pink nectarine blossom? This bee goes in head first. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A Touch of Red on Earth Day
It's Earth Day, an event we celebrate every April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protections on our troubled planet. This year's theme: "Restore Our Earth." U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson launched Earth Day on April 22, 1970,...
A honey bee touches down on a rock purslane, Calandrinia grandiflora. This plant yield red pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee rolling around in rock purslane on Earth Day. (Photo by Kathy Keatley)
A honey bee packing red pollen from the rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee leaving a rock purslane and heading off to another one. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Syrphid Fly in Rock Purslane: When a House Is a Home
When a house is a home... Take the case of a syrphid fly, aka hover fly or flower fly. It's a cold and windy day, and it's tucked in the folds of a rock purslane, Calandrinia grandiflora, in Vacaville, Calif.It's sipping nectar, and rotating its...
A syrphid fly, tucked in the folds of a rock purslane, Calandrinia grandiflora, sips nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The syrphid fly rotates its body to gather more nectar glean more sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The syprhid is just about ready to take flight. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Seeing Red: Holiday Red
Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as "red pollen." Like people, pollen comes in many colors and all are beautiful. All. The floral source determines the color of the pollen. Just as nectar is a carbohydrate source, pollen is a protein source....
Honey bee with red pollen (from neighboring rock purslane) sipping nectar from lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey bee, packing red pollen, returning to a rock purslane blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
