Posts Tagged: red pollen

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 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)

A little adjustment of her pollen load and the honey bee reaches a rock purslane blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Dazzling Display of Red Pollen

Some folks worry about "getting the red out." How about "getting the red in?" Have you ever seen a honey bee packing white, pink, blue, lavender, yellow, orange or red pollen? Have you ever seen the colorful diversity of pollen grains gracing their...

A honey bee packing red pollen stops to sip from nectar from Spanish lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee packing red pollen stops to sip from nectar from Spanish lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee adjusting her load of red pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee adjusting her load of red pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Day to Wear Red

If you're around the UC Davis campus on Friday, Feb. 5, be sure to wear red. Faculty, staff and students--and everyone else interested--will take over Hutchison Field, UC Davis campus, on Friday for the third annual UC Davis Wears Red Day. It's meant...

Seeing red...a honey bee packing red pollen heads for lavender. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Seeing red...a honey bee packing red pollen heads for lavender. (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 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)

Honey bee, packing red pollen, returning to a rock purslane blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue!

It's the Fourth of July--a time to celebrate our nation's Independence Day. Hurrah for the red, white and blue! That also covers red, white and blue pollen collected by our honey bees. If you look closely, you'll see their "patriotic" colors. "The...

Honey bee packing red pollen from a rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee packing red pollen from a rock purslane. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of white pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of white pollen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Blue pollen from a bird's eye blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Blue pollen from a bird's eye blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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