I am so happy to see the queen bees emerging. First one spotted 15/2/20. For some reason they fly along the length of our garden and then bounce off our living room window before veering off randomly. That's how I know they are about again - the tapping on the window. Since Sunday they have appeared during warm spells as they search for a suitable nest site to start their new colony. This one, which I think is a Buff Tailed Bee, was snapped at the allotment today. They are hard to photograph. This picture is enlarged and actually rotated through 180 degrees (They are quite happy to feed upside down as the flower structure dictates) The flowers are those of a Bergenia - elephant ears. The plant has made a bid to escape a neighbouring plot and is taking over the common path.Thank goodness it is tolerated. Precious few plants are flowering just now. It is a bee goldmine.
