This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

You Asked for It

March 17th, 2012

I’ve been watching and trying to figure out when the flowering bulbs in the front lawn would be a peak. It started a week and a half ago with the early blooms in lavender, light blue and even some soft pink crocuses. About a week later the late ones started to emerge in their shades of dark purple. The same day, I noticed a mini daffodils as well.  I decided yesterday was peak, the early blooms are starting to fade and a good number of daffodils were in bloom.  I found myself taking photos to share with you since you all asked to see it at peak. Here’s what my front lawn looked like yesterday.











You may think I planted these because I love crocuses. They do look lovely, but my main reason for planting them was for the bees. Crocuses are one of the earliest sources of pollen and my lawn is abuzz with honeybees madly collecting pollen as an early spring meal. I’m happy knowing that I’m giving them a better chance of survival with an early source of food.

Have you spotted any honeybees in your garden yet?

20 Comments to “You Asked for It”
  1. daisy on March 17, 2012 at 6:03 am

    That looks amazing! Great idea to attract the pollinators!
    It would never work here, as we cut our grass year-round. What a beautiful sight to wake up to every day!
    Thanks for the sneak peek!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  2. Jennifer Fisk on March 17, 2012 at 6:38 am

    Unfortunately, Downeast Maine still has some snow and ice. The forecast for balmy weather hitting 60 tomorrow will hopefully change that and we too can enjoy the beginning of spring.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  3. Fawn on March 17, 2012 at 7:27 am

    They are all over my blackberry bushes!!

    Reply to Fawn's comment

  4. Amber J on March 17, 2012 at 7:29 am

    Last weekend there was honeybees flying around checking out my yard. I was so excited to see them, hope it stays warm enough for them to be okay until real spring starts around here in april/may.

    Reply to Amber J's comment

  5. connie on March 17, 2012 at 7:38 am

    Its beautiful Susy, would love to do this in my front yard!

    Reply to connie's comment

  6. Kathi Cook on March 17, 2012 at 8:07 am

    No honeybees yet,but very soon I suspect. Love all the flowers! Every year I say I am going to plant crocuses in the fall and I never do. I have daffodils but they’re in a bed. They look so pretty and natural in the lawn. Maybe this fall….

    Reply to Kathi Cook's comment

  7. Darlene on March 17, 2012 at 8:59 am

    How pretty!! All your hard work paid off so well. I haven’t seen any honeybees,but lots of wasps and a yellow jacket or two.

    Reply to Darlene's comment

  8. tj on March 17, 2012 at 9:15 am

    …No I haven’t and I did not know that regarding crocuses and bees – thank you for that lil’ tidbit of info’ as I will definitely be planting more crocuses. :o)

    …And btw Susy, that looks absolutely lovely! I adore your mini daffodils too. So happy your yard looks!

    …Enjoy your day!

    …Blessings :o)

    Reply to tj's comment

  9. Sherri on March 17, 2012 at 9:34 am

    Absolutely gorgeous and so rewarding to see those bees having a nice meal :) I’m also giving a lot more thought to providing food for pollinating insects in my garden this year.

    Reply to Sherri's comment

  10. Jay Miller on March 17, 2012 at 9:39 am

    My bee’s made it through winter and have been all over the flowers!

    Reply to Jay Miller's comment

  11. Jess on March 17, 2012 at 10:41 am

    Hmmm. You learn something new every day. I’ll be sure to plant more crocuses for next season. Looks lovely.

    Reply to Jess's comment

  12. KimH on March 17, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    Awesome! Your yard looks great!! I think my crocus are at their peek this week.. There are still some late bloomers that havent joined the party yet.

    I didnt know that either regarding the bees. Good to know. I’ll keep my eyes open for any of the little honeys..

    It is absolutely gorgeous out there today at 75° and sunny with no clouds in the forecast until later tonight… Yeah!!

    Reply to KimH's comment

  13. bonnie on March 17, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    Yes. I saw some just a little while ago on the purple deadnettle in the yard. (It’s a plentiful weed that I was just thinking needed mowing, but the longer I procrastinate, the more the bees can enjoy it.)
    I saw an insect on my pear blossom, but didn’t get a close enough look to ID.
    In my area, fall mustard and fall turnips left to seed will make a wonderful attractant for honeybees. Daddy says the honey they make from turnips and mustard blooms makes a great-tasting honey. I have planted crimson clover for the bees before, but they seem to prefer the turnip blooms even to the clover blooms.

    Reply to bonnie's comment

  14. Corrie on March 17, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    The lawn looks great! What variety of daffodil is that?

    Our bees are out in full force, since pretty much all the trees are in bloom right now. But really, we’ve been seeing them since February when the maples and aconite bloom. Have you thought about aconite in your lawn?

    Reply to Corrie's comment

    • Susy on March 17, 2012 at 5:21 pm

      I haven’t though of aconite, I’ll have to add it as I’m always looking for more species for a mixed lawn. We have a good crop of white clover I’ve managed to get established and tons of violets as well. I’d love some mini daisies too.

      The daffodils are: Little Gem and Small Talk purchased in bulk from Van Engelen

      Reply to Susy's comment

  15. Mich on March 17, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    Your lawn looks lovely with all the flowering bulbs :) Yes we have seen some honey bees which is good news as they probably came from our hives :)

    Reply to Mich's comment

  16. Corner Garden Sue on March 17, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    How lovely! I haven’t seen any bees yet, but I saw some kind of unfamiliar butterfly flying through a few days ago.

    Reply to Corner Garden Sue's comment

  17. Donna B. on March 19, 2012 at 11:09 am

    How spendid! I have heard of planting the yard with crocus – mainly because it won’t be mown anyway until the actual leaves start to die back… in this ingenious! Maybe when I do some dividing I’ll spread the love into the lawn…
    And the bees! The bee’s! I don’t have honeybee’s, but I do have native mason and bumblers… and sweat flies already! It’s been graciously warm, and everything’s going out and enjoying the food… I’ve even spotted some Cabbage White butterflies… [I know they’re bad for brassica, but they’re BUTTERFLIES!!!]

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

  18. warren on March 20, 2012 at 11:41 am

    I def have bees in my garden…I lost one hive only so I am covered up with bees!

    Reply to warren's comment

  19. Alley on October 26, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    I just did this to my back yard! I can’t wait to see it in the Spring! :)

    Reply to Alley's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

Admin
Read previous post:
Friday Favorite: Charlie’s Soap Powder

Since the non-toxic cleaning series is coming up soon, I figured I'd start listing a few of the products I...

Close