If different types of bees can get along ok, why can't we? LOL

[nc4bo]

Took a bunch of pics this morning but these bees (and a fly-thing) stole the show :rofl:

[elleng]

1. WE have inferior brains!

[Kolesar]

2. They have got their "nectar goggles" on...eom

[MuseRider]

3. Well, I have always loved bees until last night

when a bumble bee hitched a ride in on my tee shirt. I did not know it was there until I went to pull my shirt off. It stung me once on the stomach and twice in 2 knuckles on my hand. Man oh man did it hurt in my fingers. The stomach was not bad but today I have a grapefruit sized wheal around it and it itches. The fingers are swollen. Poor little thing died on my closet floor, I don't know what killed it unless it had to yank it's stinger out in one of my fingers (I can't find it). Now I am scared to go in my closet, lol.

We have been loaded with bees this year. The bumbles are always all over the garden and never bother us as we weed and pick. I am certain I must have grabbed it, poor thing. The honey bees, and there are thousands, seem to stay in the wildflower/native pasture area.

Lovely pictures. My squash flowers are just like that, covered with bees but nothing compared to my cucumbers. I have never seen so many bees, you can hear them as you walk to the garden.

[bvar22]

4. I've never been stung by a Bumble Bee,

...but that sounds terrible.

Bumble Bees are the #1 pollinator of vegetables in our garden.
This is somewhat surprising since one of the reasons we started the HoneyBee colonies was to ensure good vegetable production, but the honeybees don't seem very interested in the vegetables, berries, melons, or beans. Like you observed, they are chiefly interested in the wild flowers and clover, of which we have plenty. They are attracted to Mint, Catnip, and especially Basil when it flowers, but that is pretty much all they are interested in inside the garden.

There is much anecdotal testimony about Bee Sting Therapy for arthritis, and I'm curious about this. I may conduct my own experiments.


Antihistamines can help with reactions to bee stings.
Mint toothpaste applied directly to the sting ASAP is also helpful.
Hope you feel better.

[MuseRider]

5. I can give you some info about

arthritis and this bee sting. I have RA and this bee stung me in two knuckles. They hurt like the devil and are still swollen so when I see how this turns out I will let you know. LOL. I used some antihistamine cream on the one on my stomach this morning because it itched so badly. It is still about the size of a grapefruit but it does not itch anymore :). Did not know about the toothpaste, I will remember that but hope to never need it!

I was very taken aback by the lack of honeybees in the garden. I figured they would be in both areas since they are pretty much contiguous but they really did not cross the fence into the garden. I did see some honeybees just like you, on the basil. My mint is in another garden.

On the great side of things, clover honey is wonderful!

I feel just fine, thank you. It was just bee stings although at the time and for about an hour and a half after it felt like the worst thing in the world. Yeeeouch!

BTW, not to thread jack too much, our Krims are finally coming in. Mmmmmmmmm. One Brandywine so far, mmmmmmmmm. I am taking your advice once again and ordering the Creoles that you and Starkraven like so much. How were the Ark. Travelers? I have seed for them for next year.