Bumblebees and Lavender: A Perfect Combination
There is something magical about the summer hum of bumblebees flying from flower to flower in search of nectar. One of their favorite flowers is lavender.
The world of bumblebees
Bumblebees belong to the bee family and are important for pollinating many plants. They are more robust and hairy than honeybees, allowing them to remain active even in colder temperatures. Their thick fur helps them to collect pollen and transfer them from one flower to another.
Bumblebees are social insects that live in small colonies. Each colony consists of a queen, workers and males. In the spring, the queen starts a new nest and lays eggs, from which workers come. These workers collect food and care for the larvae. At the end of the season, the males and new queens hatch, which ensure reproduction. After that, the colony dies and only the new queen overwinters.
Lavender: a wonder plant
Lavender (Lavandula) is a genus of approximately 47 known species of flowering plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is a popular garden plant because of its fragrant flowers and gray-green leaves. Lavender grows particularly well in sunny, well-drained soils.
