Queen Bumble

 It was beautiful spring like weather yesterday.

The sun doing its best to transform the winter into early spring. 
Crocuses and snowdrops everywhere in my garden. Such a delight.
I was wondering if The Bumbles were out and feasting on the nectar in the crocuses.

Knowing that the bumbles we see in Februari are all Queens, made me look at them in a different way. (see my previous posts)
And Yes! I noticed one Queen bumble feasting and going from one crocus to another.

Hole 3

 I did some research on the possibility that the hole was made by a bumble bee.

See my last posts from febr 03  and febr 05
I found on the web, that the Bumble bees are coming out of the ground from their hibernation half of Februari.
These are only the Queen Bumbles, The last year generation of bumbles all died.

Also was mentioned that they are about 10 cm beneath the surface during winter hibernation.
When the the Queen bumbles are coming out they go searching for food and make a nest for the next generation.
I love the idea of having a Queen bumble. I did not know that.
I thought only Bees have a Queen, but the bumbles are family of the bees.
Very interesting. Isn't it? 

All the bumbles you gone see this month are all Queens!

Bumble

 I noticed a bumble sitting on the bench outside. He sat there a long time and it looked to me that he was eating from the wood.

However I don't know if they do such a thing like that. I know of wasps seeing doing that too.

Anyhow he gave me some time to make some pics from all sides, without flying away. 

Bumble2

This morning while sitting outside,  I noticed a bumble crawling through the grass.
I wondered would it be the same bumble I saved from drowning 2 days ago?
So I stood up to have a closer inspection.
It was the same one! easily recognisable by his broken wing.

He was wandering all over the grass, searching for...I guess some honey
and because he is not able to fly and I noticed only one little clover in the grass,
it would be a miracle that he would find that only one flower.

So I put him on a stick to move him to the clover.
He immediately enjoyed the honey!
When he was finished with the clover I put him on a bunch of lobelia's. so that he would find enough for today.

Bumble

By the movement of the water, I noticed that someone was in danger.
It was a bumble.
Somehow he had fallen in the pond and he could not come out.
When i came back with my camera, I saw that he did not move anymore.
Quickly I made a photo and dragged him out of the water.
It looked as if he did not make it.
But when looking closer I saw him move and stirring his antenne.
After a while he tried to cleanse himself with his legs.

When I looked closer, I noticed that his left wing was broken.
Maybe that was the reason that he fell in the water?
Who can tell.
I looked in the water for the part if the wing that was missing.
Maybe he lost it when he nearly drowned.
But I did not find a missing piece of wing in the water.
Anyhow he was well able to walk.
After a while he crawled in the grass.

Bumble almost drowning

Bumbling

Bumble Bee bumbling

Bumble in blue

Bumble in blue

bumble

Many bumbles sit on the ground, on the fallen blossoms of the wisteria (blauwe regen).

Probably they think to find some left-over-nectar in the flowers.
I have to look carefully to not step on them accidentally.

Bumbles

My macrolens has been repaired!
2 months waiting....way 2 long!

Bumles are flying and hovering, going in and out the foxgloves...
honeytime!.......... golden liquid honey!

bumbles

The grass has grown way too long,
didn't mow it in 2 weeks,

Advantage is that the clovers in the grass now are blossoming...
bending & bowing through the weight of bumbles
visiting them for a drink.

bumble B

Going in & out

bumble bee

a bumble bee tumbled,
a tumble bee...
a tumble bee humbled,
a humble bee...
a bumble, tumble, humble bee