BUMBLE BEES HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL SENSE OF SMELL , ABOUT ONE HUNDRED TIMES THAT OF A HUMAN
BUMBLE BEES HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL SENSE OF SMELL , ABOUT ONE HUNDRED TIMES THAT OF A HUMAN
a bee by net , it undergoes a photo shoot worthy of any centerfold beauty . Pictures are taken from head to toe , emphasizing their best features . The bee is then safely released , and the pictures are sent on for expert identification .
Bumble bees are paramount for a functioning ecosystem , so it ' s a good idea to invite them into our gardens . The best way to do this is to provide the native plants they prefer to feed on , including Baptisia . Baptisia alba blooms quite early when few blossoms are available , providing queen bees a crucial , early energy boost . There are three different Baptisia that can be grown locally : white alba , purple australis , and yellow tinctoria . All are native perennials that are nitrogen-fixing ( enrich the soil ), long-lived ( eventually growing four feet wide ), and highly deer resistant . For those who believe that “ with patience come rewards ,” this
24 • KIAWAH CONSERVANCY