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Posts Tagged: Benicia
In Search of the First Bumble Bee of the Year
What are you doing on New Year's Day? Well, weather permitting, you can begin searching for the first bumble bee of the year in the two-county area of Yolo and Solano. If you photograph it and you are judged the winner, a prize awaits you--in addition...
A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosenenskii, foraging on oxalis near the Benicia State Capitol grounds on Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee and a yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosenenskii, foraging on oxalis near the Benicia State Capitol grounds on Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on rosemary on Jan. 25, 2020 on the grounds of the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on a rose on Jan. 25, 2020 in downtown Benicia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Real Almond Joy
California's almond pollination season typically starts in mid-February, around Valentine's Day, but along the Benicia waterfront, the almond trees sometimes blossom as early as Jan. 1. The climate is warm and temperate. The bees are hungry, eager...
Almond blossoms greet the sky and bees in this image taken at the Matthew Turner Shipyard Park in Benicia on Jan. 30, 2012. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee forages on an almond blossom, gathering nectar and pollen for her colony. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This honey bee can't get enough of the nectar and pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Apis mellifera, we have lift-off! Time to head for another almond blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
What Does Science Tells Us About Bumble Bees and Honey Bees Foraging Together?
It's always a delight to see bumble bees and honey bees foraging together on flowers during the winter "sun breaks." Lately we've been seeing them sharing rosemary blossoms in Benicia and Vallejo. What does science tell us about this? In a...
A black-tailed bumble bee, Bombus melanopygus, foraging on rosemary at the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park on Feb. 23, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, foraging on rosemary at Glen Cove Marina, Vallejo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee, Apis mellifera, foraging on rosemary at the Benicia Capitol State Historic Park on Feb. 23, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Hear That Buzz? Almond Pollination Season Is Approaching
Hear that buzz? California almond pollination season is approaching. The season usually begins around Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, but we usually see the first-of-the-year almond blooms in mid-January in a hot spot near...
An almond blossom graces an area near the Benicia marina on Jan. 23, 2021. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee packing her pollen on Bee Biology Road, UC Davis, before returning to her hive. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Bee hives in front of an almond orchard on March 8, 2019 in Dixon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A Beauty of a Day: Bumble Bees in Benicia
If there's anything better than seeing honey bees foraging on almond blossoms, it's this: Bumble bees foraging on almond blossoms. Make that the yellow-faced bumble bees, Bombus vosnesenskii, in Benicia. Sunday morning as the temperatures soared...
A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii,heads for an almond blossom in Benicia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenskii, nectaring on almonds in Benica. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A yellow thorax and face help identify Bombus vosnesenskii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A wing of Bombus vosnesenskii glistens in the sun. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A yellow abdominal stripe helps characterize Bombus vosnesenskii. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Time to go! Bombus vosnesenskii departs one blossom for another. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
