bee.otany

More spring goodness

2021 Calendar & Sample Box This box includes: 2 Worker B Lip Balms 1 Worker B Mini Lotion Bar 1 – 2.5 oz of Stray Pine Spring Honey 1 Bee.otany Calendar 4 Bee.otany Post Cards All in a Felt Reusable Box All proceeds go to Bee.otany’s general fund

Selling now on etsy!

2021 Bee.otany Calendar & Postcards 1-2021 Calendar and 4 Bee.otany Postcards all featuring pollinators on various flowers

Ceanothus americanus, also known as New Jersey Tea or Red Root is a good nectar source for honey bees and pollinators such as wasps.

"Red root produces a light amber honey with a good flavor in several eastern states." (Lovell, H. B. (1966). Honey Plants Manual)

Also known as Vitituoksio in Finnish; vit säckbuske in Swedish; respectively.

Also check out Bee and Pollinator Books by Heather Holm and for her new book Wasps

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Planting for wasps! To kick off the release of my new book, Wasps, I’m feauring this eastern North American native shrub, New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)—a wasp favorite. This native shrub grows in well-drained soil and full sun. In late June or early July, mature plants produce clusters of white flowers that attract a variety of wasps. You may also notice wasps hunting for their prey on the flowers. Last summer I photographed a square-headed wasp capturing a soldier fly on the flower head! Note: in urban/suburban gardens, New Jersey tea can get heavily browsed by rabbits in the winter. Tell me about your experience growing New Jersey tea!

Borage officinalis or borage is a wonderful source of pollen, propolis, and nectar for honey bees.

"Not annual flower, annual pollen. Fast growing flowering 6 weeks after germination. Propagation from seeds, cuttings or root divisions.; The sugar in its nectar has been measured at 52% and produces a dark honey. Borage apparently secreted nectar throughout the day, and continues to yield even in cold weather." (The Xerces Society 2016. 100 Plants to Feed the Bees)

"An introduced plant much planted in America. Some consider borage the best annual to plant for bees and puts it in rows between his potatoes. Although often praised there seems no record of a surplus in US. The honey is believed to be very dark." (Lovell, H. B. (1966). Honey Plants Manual)

"...Minor commercial leaf, flower and seed crop. Annual to biennial. Flowers light purple to bluish. Long-flowering. Pellets white to grey. Bee factor 80%. Honey in Canada."(Johannsmeier, M. F. (2016). Beeplants of South Africa: Sources of Nectar, Pollen, Honeydew and Propolis for Honeybees)

Also known as beeplant, common borage, starflower and talewort. Komkommerkruid in Afrikaans; حمحم مخزني in Arabic; Borraja in Basque; Агурочнік лёкавы in Belarusian; Пореч in Bulgarian; Boražina in Croatian; brutnák lékařský in Czech; Almindelig Hjulkrone in Danish; Finnish kurkkuyrtti and purasruoho; bourrache officinale in French; borretsch, Einjähringer borretsch and gurkenkraut in German; Μπουράντζο in Greek; Borráiste gorm in Irish; borragine in Italian; ルリジサ in Japanese; gurkört in Swedish; Ogórecznik lekarski in polish; respectfully. via Encyclopedia of Life


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Late in the fall I threw down some borage seeds and because our winter has been so mild, they sprouted, grew and bloomed! Right now these winter bees are bringing home some highly nutritious food! Borage can quickly reseed and takeover a garden space if you let it, but it can easily be pulled up if it gets put of control.

Crocus sp., commonly known as Crocus, Giant Dutch Crocus, is pollen and nectar source for honey bees and pollinators. Not the same crocus for saffron production is Crocus sativus.

"Perennial herb [blooms] early spring or autumn as planted. Very attractive to honey bees, but far too limited to be of much value" (Burgett, D. M., Stringer, B. A., & Johnston, L. R. D. (1989). Nectar and Pollen Plants of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest)

Also known as زعفران in Arabic, Zəfəran in Azerbaijani, Минзухар in Bulgarian, Šafran in Croatian, šafrán in Czech, Krokus in Danish, Sahramit in Finnish, ზაფრანა in Georgian, Krokusse in German, Κρόκος in Greek, כרכום in Hebrew, sáfrány in Hungarian, Krókus in Icelandic, Crócas Irish, Croco in Italian, クロッカス in Japanese, Pîvok in Kurdish, Качунка in Macedonian, Szafran in Polish, Brândușă in Romanian/Moldavian, Çiğdem in Turkish, Шафран (рід) Ukrainian, respectively. Via Encyclopedia of Life

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T(w)o be(es) or not t(w)o be(es), that is the question.

📷: Purple crocus (Crocus sp.) flowers and honeybees

Bee.otony is a non-profit that connects people 👥 with the plants🌳🌴🌺🌸🌻 pollinators 🐝🐞🦋🪲🕷need to thrive not just survive.

Pollen, nectar and propolis (& water) are the food and antibiotics honeybees and other pollinators need on a daily basis.

Native and honey bees fly when it’s 50F/10C so please don’t disturb the garden and ground to help them emerge and find their way

Feel free to donate to Bee.otany at bit.ly/BeeotanyDonate or purchase one of our 2021 bundles!

Happy gardening and seed starting!

Bee.otony is a non-profit that connects people with the plants pollinators need to thrive not just survive.

Pollen, nectar and propolis (& water) are the food and antibiotics honeybees and other pollinators need on a daily basis.

Native and honey bees fly when it’s 50F/10C so please don’t disturb the garden and ground to help them emerge and find their way

Feel free to donate to Bee.otany at bit.ly/BeeotanyDonate or purchase one of our 2021 bundles!

Happy gardening and seed starting!

Anacardium occidentale commonly known as Cashew is a nectar, pollen and propolis source for pollinators.

"This evergreen tree, grown from seed, is widely cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropics. Both fruits and nuts are eaten. Ink is obtained from the bark, and an insect repellant and vesicant oil from nuts shells. Both male and bisexual flowers are produced in the same flowers panicle, the ratio being 6:1. Insect pollination is important, but evidence as to how important is conflicting. Insects observed on flowers included flies, ants and especially honeybees. Honeybee collect both nectar and pollen from the flowers, and cashews is an important honey source. Poor fruit setting has been a problem, and evidence strongly indicates that concentration of honeybee colonies in cashew plantings during flowering would be helpful." (Crane, E., & Walker, P. (1984). Pollination Directory for World Crops)

Also know as Kasjoeneut in Afrikaans, كاجو in Arabic, dare kisé in Bambara, Anakardo in Basque, кашу in Bulgarian, Indijski oraščić in Croatian, Lääneanakard in Estonian, Munuaispuu in Finnish, anacardier in French, Ndarkassu in Fulah, აკაჟუ in Georgian, Acajoubaum in German, קשיו in Hebrew, kesu in Hungarian, Caisiú Irish, カシューナッツ in Japanese,индиски орев in Macedonian, Neeshchʼííłgai in Navajo, kasjutre in Norwegian, Nanercz zachodni in Polish, Кешью in Russian, Индијски орах in Serbian, anacardo in Spanish, Korosho in Swahili, Kaju in Turkish, Кеш'ю in Ukrainian, respectively via Encyclopedia of Life

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It’s a real honor to showcase this painting by Jane Kim as part of our show “Wilderness”. Here’s a look at the full piece, the work framed, some details and an annotated key!

Jane Kim ( InkWell)
For a Single Nut
9”x12”, Acrylic and latex on illustration board mounted to wood

Helleborus sp. commonly known as Hellebore is a good source of pollen and nectar for pollinators.

"…cherish hellebores, for their early appearance is a sign of spring…seeds collected in early summer are not ready…if you collect or buy seed, you must allow for or mimic…by providing a warm period followed by a chilled one…Handle these seeds with care. They contain glycosides, which are poisonous." (Dunn Chace, T., & Llewellyn, R. J. (2015). Seeing seeds)

Also known as خربق in Arabic, Ղանձլամեր in Armenian, Şaxtagülü in Azerbaijani, Кукуряк in Bulgarian, Kukurijek in Croatian, čemeřice in Czech, Nyserod in Danish, Lumeroos in Estonian, Jouluruusut in Finnish, Hellébore in French, ხარისძირა in Georgian, Nieswurz in German, Hunyor in Hungarian, Eileabar in Irish, Elleboro in Italian, ヘレボルス in Japanese, Julerose in Norwegian, Ciemiernik in Polish,
Морозник in Russian, Telohi in Spanish, Julrossläktet in Swedish, Чемерник in Ukrainian, respectively via Encyclopedia of Life

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Hellebores. Early Spring forage for our pollinators. 🌱

Check out Chris Alice Kratzer ( on Twitter) wonderful pocket guide for moths of North America! Can not wait for "THE SOCIAL WASPS OF NORTH AMERICA" COMING MID 2021!

Still looking for a 2021 Calendar this year?? Bee.otany has you covered! All proceeds go to Bee.otany's general fund. Also comes with 4 postcards!