It looks amazing. Definitely doesn't seem like pollination will be a problem for your garden 
Let Me Tell You About the Birds and the Bees and the Flowers and the Trees
- Thread starter DThille
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We've never experienced an issue that I could attribute to pollination. Some years weather conditions hurt the pollinators though. In the longer run I hope to see an increase in variety and numbers. It's always neat that if you stop near the clover you can hear the buzzing.
That said, here's a few (understatement) more from Sunday July 17...a number of these were taken by my daughter.
It isn't just the clover that buzzes...this is phacelia, part of the cover crop mix.
They almost lined up for me....
I like this shot as the camera truly got focused on the bee.
Eastern kingbird landed above me in the tree.
To the clover patch for more bee action.
Barn swallow.
Phoenix turned 1 on Saturday...it was pretty warm...he was tuckered out by the time we got home.
Roll over...we don't trust his recall yet and with critters and no fence, he's typically attached to someone on a 30' lead in the country.
They went for a walkabout...he's about 60 lbs.
Where'd he go?
Peek-a-boodle!
She was trying to get a shot with the house hiding the trees...neglected to worry about the truck.
Back to the phacelia and the regularly scheduled programming.
Jiminy Crickets! The crickets have come out although they're relatively small yet. It won't be long and you won't be able to hear the bees buzzing over the sound of the crickets.
The phacelia is an attractive plant with a pretty flower. I can see procuring more of this seed.
That said, here's a few (understatement) more from Sunday July 17...a number of these were taken by my daughter.
It isn't just the clover that buzzes...this is phacelia, part of the cover crop mix.
They almost lined up for me....
I like this shot as the camera truly got focused on the bee.
Eastern kingbird landed above me in the tree.
To the clover patch for more bee action.
Barn swallow.
Phoenix turned 1 on Saturday...it was pretty warm...he was tuckered out by the time we got home.
Roll over...we don't trust his recall yet and with critters and no fence, he's typically attached to someone on a 30' lead in the country.
They went for a walkabout...he's about 60 lbs.
Where'd he go?
Peek-a-boodle!
She was trying to get a shot with the house hiding the trees...neglected to worry about the truck.
Back to the phacelia and the regularly scheduled programming.
Jiminy Crickets! The crickets have come out although they're relatively small yet. It won't be long and you won't be able to hear the bees buzzing over the sound of the crickets.
The phacelia is an attractive plant with a pretty flower. I can see procuring more of this seed.
That looks amazing, it's such a difference from a few weeks back when everything was still covered in snow! It's stunning
Happy birthday Phoenix!
Happy birthday Phoenix!
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I was a little more focused on plants yesterday, but snapped a few shots of this young eastern kingbird when I saw an adult feed it...unfortunately none of the photos with the adult were in focus.
The tail looks shorter than an adult's.
The tail looks shorter than an adult's.
I find birds hard to photograft regardless as they tend to move quite a bit. But it's still a good shot!
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Thanks @Mandy Onderwater
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I was out this afternoon...I did see ten chickens, but they were frozen and bagged for me. I saw three juvenile robins at the same time, so there was a decent brood success it would seem. I also saw about 8 killdeer and many mourning doves as well as the usual suspects.
A bee on Persian clover in the cover crop mix.
Same bee, different poze.
I caught this bumble bee with my phone...I haven't tried to determine what type of bombus it is yet.
An interesting bug that I haven't yet identified near one of the cucurbit plants, also taken with my phone.
I finally got to making a video among the cover crop mix...there's just a steady hum. I'm not sure how well it gets across, but I think it's neat.
A bee on Persian clover in the cover crop mix.
Same bee, different poze.
I caught this bumble bee with my phone...I haven't tried to determine what type of bombus it is yet.
An interesting bug that I haven't yet identified near one of the cucurbit plants, also taken with my phone.
I finally got to making a video among the cover crop mix...there's just a steady hum. I'm not sure how well it gets across, but I think it's neat.
That's lovely. You can hear them buzzing!
The last bug is perhaps a shield bug?
The last bug is perhaps a shield bug?
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From this insect identification site it seems to have the shape of a stink bug, but the colouration doesn't match any of the examples shown there. It's getting late so perhaps a project for tomorrow....
I've been looking around. Perjhaps it looks like a brown stinkbug nymph, or even just a brown stink bug.
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Here's today's instalment. I don't have any photos of birds, but we did see quite a few mourning doves and I always here meadowlarks and some others out there.
Here's a fly pretending to be a bee...flies have two wings while bees have four.
A bumble bee...there are a number of different species and I haven't worked on ID yet.
I remember someone once saying based on aerodynamics and such that bumble bees shouldn't be able to fly. Here's proof otherwise.
The phacelia is really popular with the bees...no wonder it's part of the pollinator mix.
A long-legged spider...once nice thing about where we live is that, short of transferring disease, we don't have critters that are significantly poisonous.
Here's a fly pretending to be a bee...flies have two wings while bees have four.
A bumble bee...there are a number of different species and I haven't worked on ID yet.
I remember someone once saying based on aerodynamics and such that bumble bees shouldn't be able to fly. Here's proof otherwise.
The phacelia is really popular with the bees...no wonder it's part of the pollinator mix.
A long-legged spider...once nice thing about where we live is that, short of transferring disease, we don't have critters that are significantly poisonous.
Loving the pictures 😍
Correct; bees shouldn't be able to fly. Or at least that's what we were told for many years. I believe there's been reasons as to why they can fly nowadays. Something with them being able to have their wings at a certain angle I believe, but don't quote me on it.
Being in Australia we just assume everything is poisonous until proven otherwise. In saying that, at least for the spiders, most stay out of your way if you don't bother them. We have a roommate huntsman who helps rid the house of insect populations (and geckos, but luckily I haven't found any "leftovers").
Correct; bees shouldn't be able to fly. Or at least that's what we were told for many years. I believe there's been reasons as to why they can fly nowadays. Something with them being able to have their wings at a certain angle I believe, but don't quote me on it.
Being in Australia we just assume everything is poisonous until proven otherwise. In saying that, at least for the spiders, most stay out of your way if you don't bother them. We have a roommate huntsman who helps rid the house of insect populations (and geckos, but luckily I haven't found any "leftovers").
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Today I startled a covey of gray partridge...there were probably 20 among the cover crop.
I see a grasshopper, a bumble bee, and flea beetles...better on the turnips in the cover crop than the ones I'm growing for food.
Apparently, I've got a thing for bumble bees...they look so interesting, and until this year I didn't know there were many varieties (37 or 38 if I recall).
You can't see me...I'm hiding.
I'm pretty sure this is a syrphid fly, possibly a hover fly.
Happy sunflowers.
We all enjoy the phacelia, the pale purple flower. I'll have to plant that again. Sunflowers also are nice and bright.
I see a grasshopper, a bumble bee, and flea beetles...better on the turnips in the cover crop than the ones I'm growing for food.
Apparently, I've got a thing for bumble bees...they look so interesting, and until this year I didn't know there were many varieties (37 or 38 if I recall).
You can't see me...I'm hiding.
I'm pretty sure this is a syrphid fly, possibly a hover fly.
Happy sunflowers.
We all enjoy the phacelia, the pale purple flower. I'll have to plant that again. Sunflowers also are nice and bright.
Loving the bumble bees and the flowers
The sounds are very calming. I feel like one could get lost in the flowers and just relax.
The sounds are very calming. I feel like one could get lost in the flowers and just relax.
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As I integrate more critters I may need to change the title of the thread....
Northern leopard frog captured with my phone.
Now on to yesterday's adventure....
Squash blossom with what is likely a syrphid fly (hover fly is best guess).
Even the crickets enjoy the squash blossoms.
Quite a few grasshoppers around this year following a bumper crop of them in last year's dry weather.
Northern leopard frog captured with my phone.
Now on to yesterday's adventure....
Squash blossom with what is likely a syrphid fly (hover fly is best guess).
Even the crickets enjoy the squash blossoms.
Quite a few grasshoppers around this year following a bumper crop of them in last year's dry weather.
Such an interesting lookin frog
I have never seen crickets inside flowers, that's very interesting. After a little google it's said that they can indeed be pollinaters, but that you may run the risk of them eating your plant too.
They are all very pretty to look at though 😍
I have never seen crickets inside flowers, that's very interesting. After a little google it's said that they can indeed be pollinaters, but that you may run the risk of them eating your plant too.
They are all very pretty to look at though 😍
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Here's yesterday's playtime. I was out there a total of about four hours...while I moved at a relaxed pace, I didn't have much time aside from harvesting and taking some photos.
I can say I've never really noticed true bugs like stink bugs and their ilk previously. We do seem to have quite a few around this year. I'll need to look into their feeding habits and lifestyle to learn whether they're beneficial or not so much.
It's always nice to see ladybugs around.
Bumblebee and friend....
I'll need to check, but I believe these are seven-spotted ladybugs.
The bumblebees seem more relaxed on the sunflowers...I'd imagine it has something to do with being able to gather a lot of food in one place so they don't immediately need to fly off elsewhere.
This bee has company.
One for me and one for you....
Or not...a two plus two shot.
I'm confident these are two varieties of bees but I've been wrong before....
Someone else around to consume insects...feel free to go after the crickets consuming my tomatoes.
I can say I've never really noticed true bugs like stink bugs and their ilk previously. We do seem to have quite a few around this year. I'll need to look into their feeding habits and lifestyle to learn whether they're beneficial or not so much.
It's always nice to see ladybugs around.
Bumblebee and friend....
I'll need to check, but I believe these are seven-spotted ladybugs.
The bumblebees seem more relaxed on the sunflowers...I'd imagine it has something to do with being able to gather a lot of food in one place so they don't immediately need to fly off elsewhere.
This bee has company.
One for me and one for you....
Or not...a two plus two shot.
I'm confident these are two varieties of bees but I've been wrong before....
Someone else around to consume insects...feel free to go after the crickets consuming my tomatoes.
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Here's some critters and flowers from today. This is a post one may want to avoid if they suffer from arachnophobia.
Yarrow with incoming insect.
Not sure what this flower is.
This is a busy plant hosting a lot of pollinators.
Ducks on the dugout...based on bill shape I believe they are northern shovelers, female and/or juvenile.
Ribbit.
Another view.
Underside of a spider on its web.
I couldn't get a great photo as the web was on an angle, but this spider has a lot of stripes on its abdomen.
Red standard poodle.
I don't know if it is time of year or the nature of the flower, but sunflowers really attract bumblebees.
A closer look.
We are pretty close to a bee for every bloom.
Neat shot of a multi-bloomed sunflower.
Caterpillar.
The poodle and subsequent photos were shot by my daughter. She was with us to help keep the dog under control...otherwise he's just running about disregarding our garden plants. He really does seem to enjoy being out there...and it's nice that he's tuckered out for the rest of the day.
Yarrow with incoming insect.
Not sure what this flower is.
This is a busy plant hosting a lot of pollinators.
Ducks on the dugout...based on bill shape I believe they are northern shovelers, female and/or juvenile.
Ribbit.
Another view.
Underside of a spider on its web.
I couldn't get a great photo as the web was on an angle, but this spider has a lot of stripes on its abdomen.
Red standard poodle.
I don't know if it is time of year or the nature of the flower, but sunflowers really attract bumblebees.
A closer look.
We are pretty close to a bee for every bloom.
Neat shot of a multi-bloomed sunflower.
Caterpillar.
The poodle and subsequent photos were shot by my daughter. She was with us to help keep the dog under control...otherwise he's just running about disregarding our garden plants. He really does seem to enjoy being out there...and it's nice that he's tuckered out for the rest of the day.
Such pretty flowers 😍
The only thing that somewhat irks me is the caterpillar, haha. Feels like I shouldn't touch that one.
The only thing that somewhat irks me is the caterpillar, haha. Feels like I shouldn't touch that one.