This isn't a well-thought-out post. I was doing a few yard chores in a futile attempt to avoid doing paperwork, and noticed the buzzing of industrious bees. So I ran (hobbled - back still hurting from wet-kitchen-floor moment) back inside and grabbed the camera.

Observation - not from reading. Maybe you can prove me wrong. Honey bees seem to love small flowers. In the Spring, the cherry blossoms are almost black with bees (Orchard Mason Bees, not honey bees). In the Summer, the lavender plants are covered with honey bees.

Now, in late summer, the sedums are blooming. We've been increasing the dry-tolerant population in our yard, with more sedum plants. I don't know the variety name for this one, the leaves are red and the flowers are pink. They grow very easily, survive cold winters and dry summers. They did well in the Midwest when I lived there. The bees land on the compound flowers, and walk around on them until they seem almost drunk with pollen. Then they fly off.

This is Sedum "Autum Joy". The bees are on it before the flowers are fully open.

They also love Allium (onion family) plants. Currently we havae Chinese Chives (Garlic Chives) in full bloom. Bees also love walking around on these white globes of little flowers. I've noted that bees also like the ornamental alliums, such as Spring blooming Allium moly and the massive early-summer blooming Globemaster Allium. This garlic chives variety was shipped from China, to be grown as a vegetable. The leaves are wider and longer than the American varieties. However, I also have some clusters that I grew as a kid (40 years ago) and discovered the plants - or their descendents - in my parents yard 2 years ago. I brought some here to my own yard. They are smaller, more delicate, than the vegetable-grade plants, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. We chop them finely, and combine them with egg, tofu, and spices, to make Chinese dumplings.

One bee liked this lily. It's near the Chinese Chives, and the other bees definitely prefer the chives.

We have sweet allysum growing close to the garlic chives - the bees are ignoring it!