CT Bumblebee Dad
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ctbumbledad.bsky.social
CT Bumblebee Dad
@ctbumbledad.bsky.social
520 followers 590 following 130 posts
Husband & Dad. Native plant & pollinator enthusiast. Enviro lawyer in CT. Michigander. Too proud of our hellstrip garden. Native thistle stan. Sometimes climate, clean energy, democracy posts. Please, let’s all look out for each other.
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ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Shagback hickory in early evening light.

#nature #nativeplants
view is looking up trunk of mature Shagback hickory with shaggy bark (as its name suggests!) in mix of early evening/late summer sun and shadow with crooked snakey limbs protruding out in various directions and green-lime leaves in clusters with very blue sky behind it all.
September 1, 2025 at 9:55 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Enjoy this Monarch feasting on native thistle. The bumbles love it too!
August 30, 2025 at 12:36 AM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Monarchs love native thistle. #bloomscrolling #flower #nativeplants #butterfly #nature
Monarch butterfly with wings open - so the brilliant orange side is showing- and partly upside down nectaring on native thistle (probably tall thistle, Cirsium altissimum). Thistle flower is electric pink and in background can be seen several unopened thistle flower buds and many thin green thistle leaves, some with spines.
August 24, 2025 at 7:04 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Have to admit I’m completely enthralled by native thistle flowers. Look at this color! (I know thistles are not universally loved but they are amazing #nativeplants and #pollinator friends; started some from seed a few years ago and they just keep popping up in our yard bringing joy and life!)
Close up pic of brilliant spiky-fluffy pink-lavender thistle flower head in morning sun (pic taken today) with unfocused green foliage in background. Could be native swamp thistle or native tall thistle - have both growing in our yard but I can never tell them apart! Beloved by bumblebees and butterflies- especially Monarchs on their fall migration - and also goldfinches for their seeds. Have seen hummingbirds nectaring on them also.
August 13, 2025 at 1:27 AM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
One of these things is not like the others. #nativeplants
Small pumpkin flower sort of blending in with cluster of black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia fulgida)
August 11, 2025 at 11:53 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Brown-eyed susan flower bud with stunning pattern
#nativeplants #bloomscrolling
Photo of not yet opened flower bud of Rudbeckia triloba aka brown-eyed susan or three-leaved coneflower. Bud displays fascinating precise geometric pattern similar to dahlias. Center of bud is greenish brown. Yellow flower petals stick out from center’s fringe in regular pattern but also haven’t opened and remain closed rods. An irregular ring of slightly hairy green small pointy leaves (or bracts?) surrounds the bud and petals. Opened flowers can be seen as partial unfocused images in background upper left and upper right.
August 11, 2025 at 2:03 AM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Bumblebee tucking in for the night under some swamp milkweed flower buds.

#nativebee #pollinator #nativeplants #nature
Bumblebee (guessing male common eastern) hanging upside down under cluster of pink swamp milkweed flower buds that haven’t opened yet. Some open flowers in upper left with green foliage in bottom half of pic and in background. Bumblebee’s face is looking straight ahead and is visible in detail with large shiny eyes and distinct antennas jutting out to each side. Male bumblebees often can be seen sleeping overnight on flowers, especially in late summer, because they cannot return to the nest they were raised in apparently.
August 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
This was a thrill to find. Dune slope dotted with numerous clumps of wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) in full flower. This is just a small sample. Lake Michigan in background. #nativeplants #nature #bloomscrolling
In foreground are vivid purple flowers of wild bergamot along west-facing slope of dune with Lake Michigan in background. Slope has mixture of vegetation with sand visible among clumps of dune grass and wild bergamot and other plants.
July 27, 2025 at 2:15 AM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Squash bees sure are darn photogenic!

#nativebees #pollinators
Pruinose squash bee resting inside brilliant orange yellow pumpkin flower. Early morning light hitting flower from side gives it a kind of glow. Bee has pretty fuzzy thorax, large eyes, a bit of a snout, longish antennas, and long hairs on back leg. Probably a female.
July 21, 2025 at 11:39 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
front yard garden hitting mid-summer form! mainly native plants.

going into year four for the right-hand side (the hellstrip) and year three for the left-hand side (a small berm).

#nativeplants #bloomscrolling
view of sidewalk (from bottom left corner of pic moving up to upper right portion). on both sides are (primarily) native plant garden beds slightly bumping out over sidewalk. beds filled with variety of flowering perennials, shrubs, even a few small trees. much larger trees fil the background. flowering plants include: yellow flowers of shrubby St. John's wort, orange coneflowers, blue spikes of agastache, smattering of california poppies and cosmos (the not-native to New England stuff). one columnar juniper in center background, with young native red bud just to the right of it. on right side at back is a young beach plum in the hellstrip (being trained into small tree form). at very back of hellstrip bed a utility pole is visible. the power line shadows lay directly over the new-ish sidewalk cement.
July 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Just really loving this unplanned patch of native Partridge pea that popped up in the front yard garden.

#nativeplants #gardening
Photo shows small patch of young Partridge pea growing next to primitive rock stairs in small garden.
June 28, 2025 at 2:10 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
We will never accept a king here. #NoKings
Photo of yard sign with white background that says "Rejecting Kings" at top in dark blue letters, over image of US flag, with the words (again in dark blue) "Since 1776*" below that image. Asterisk leads to final line at bottom, also in dark blue lettering - "Even earlier in Connecticut". Around outer edge of yard sign can be seen some garden plants, part of a red brick chimney, and a red front door.
June 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
BUZZ pollination has been turned up to 11 on this native purple-flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus). Bumblebees love its pollen!

#nativebees #nativeplants #bloomscrolling #pollinators
June 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Random selection of native flowers from a southern New England yard this past week - wild strawberry, spring beauties, wild violet (cool blue-white color mix), and pussytoes (can't remember if field or plaintain). #nativeplants #bloomscrolling #flowers
Single white flower of native wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) with brilliant golden-yellow center surrounded by spray of green leaves with serrated edges and small cluster of unopened flower beds. Three opened spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) flowers (white petals with striking pink veining with pink anthers) with small unopened flower bud cluster hanging below and background of leaves and spring beauty green foliage (long thin green leaves). Single native wild violet (Viola sororia) flower with green violet leaves and stems and other plant debris in background. Flower has unusually interesting shading of blue and white colors with strong blue nectar guide veining. Multiple native pussytoes (Antennaria sp.) flower heads - with soft white hairy buds (not quite open I think?) on dark greenish stems. Background is basal foliage with a large rock. Not sure which pussytoe this is either plaintain or field.
April 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Native bee party! Warm sunny afternoon and pussy willow flowers brought them out yesterday. Sweat bees mainly, but also unequal cellophane bees and eastern carpenter bees. Love the frenzy! #nativebees #pollinators #nativeplants #bloomscrolling
April 5, 2025 at 1:20 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
FINALLY! the first catkins have opened! our pussy willow (Salix discolor) has begun to flower. a true sign of spring. now hoping for sunny days to bring on the #nativebees - they love this early food source.

#bloomscrolling #nativeplants #nature #pollinators
close up photo of portion of pussy willow branch (brown but with a reddish/purplish cast) with several silver gray furry catkins arranged somewhat evenly spaced around its length. some catkins have begun to open with their brilliant-yellow pollen-rich stamens bursting forth. picture taken on March 27, 2025.
March 28, 2025 at 5:14 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
can't wait for these wild violets to make their big spring entrance. one of the first native flowers here in New England. they're tough and will grow nearly anywhere, even in driveway cracks. pollinator powerhouse too! (pic from April 2021)

#nativeplants #bloomscrolling #nature #pollinators
large patch of of light-purple wild violet flowers - maybe 20 or so flowers - boldly jutting out of large green patch of heart-shaped leaves. patch is growing in crack between driveway and garage. a very beneficial native plant that is one of the first to bloom in New England. great for native bees - especially the first bumble bees of the year - and also ants.
March 13, 2025 at 1:29 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
why it's called "hairy" wood mint I guess.
close-up of hairy wood mint stem, which is covered in many small fine white hairs that make it look like it has fur. branching side stems (or leaf petioles?) also covered with same strong fuzz.
March 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
this was the patch at its max growth in July 2023.
major cluster of hairy wood mint plants covered with their unique tiered flower spikes in partly shaded corner of yard with fence behind (with some native virginia creeper). partly in sun - beautiful
March 8, 2025 at 2:53 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
underappreciated #nativeplant favorite - hairy wood mint (Blephilia hirsuta). with a perplexing bumble bee friend. this patch thrived in part sun moist loam - strong minty smell from even several feet away. will spread (but I wanted that!).

#bloomscrolling #pollinator #nativebee
close-up side view of very golden yellow and fuzzy bumble bee nectaring on white, purple-dotted small upside-down hook-shaped flowers set in alternating rings along hairy stem with alternating lanceolate leaf pairs. sun hitting bumble just right - it has a glow.
March 8, 2025 at 2:50 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Not kidding about the cold!
Rallygoer standing outdoors at back of Hartford CT rally crowd smiling at camera wearing full length winter coat with faux fur-lined hood and holding white poster board sign that reads Facts Over Fascism.
March 7, 2025 at 8:39 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
Strong crowd today at the Hartford rally despite bitter cold and wind! Tough weather doesn't stop scientists standing up for truth.

#standupforscience2025
Large crowd facing towards entrance of CT capitol building (north side). Picture is from back of crowd. Folks are wearing all kinds of winter gear. Can see speaker way up on stone steps leading past thick columns to several wooden doors of entrance. Capitol building is made of stone with several levels and lots of design features - arches, statutes, etc.
March 7, 2025 at 8:09 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
another favorite yellow flowered native (pic from June 2024)

eastern prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa)

yes we have a native cactus in New England!

perfect for sunny hot spots with tough soil

blooms are short-lived but very enticing to small native bees

#bloomscrolling #nativeplants
close-up of three open yellow flowers with satiny textured petals (with kind of spiky/pointy edges) and numerous delicate yellow pollen anthers. all jutting out of top edges of different greenish waxy cactus paddles. some paddles have spikey structures all over surface. other unopened and developing flower buds can also be seen on top edges of paddles.
February 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
a favorite - partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata). brilliant yellow flowers that bumblebees love for their pollen. nectar actually comes from a source separate from the flower. ants and wasps love that. an annual - will reseed if given a sunny open spot over time.

#bloomscrolling #nativeplants
a close-up of several yellow partridge pea flowers with their brown-ish centers along a vertical green stem of the plant with leaf fronds jutting out vertically up and down its length. green cone-like spiky flower heads not yet opened can be seen where stems and leaf stems join.
February 23, 2025 at 10:15 PM
ctbumbledad.bsky.social
good these days to remember the life and brilliance of the summer.

bumble bee sunflower pollen bath - August 2024.

#sunflowers #nativeplants #nativebees #bloomscrolling
close-up picture of late summer sunflower. bumble bee nectaring on small inner flowers (what become the seeds) with view of some of the brilliant yellow-gold petals. bumble bee (probably common eastern) covered in great fuzz of bright yellow-gold pollen, likely from the sunflower
February 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM