The bee survey is coming to and end pretty soon.  We had good surveys last week and the weather cooperated nicely.  We will try to have one more survey in November if we get some nice warm and sunny days.  Some new plants are in flower right now like the groundsel tree (Baccharis halimifolia) and some new bees were out visiting them.  Not sure what they are yet, but I'm thinking maybe they are Colletes sp.  There are still lot's of carpenter bees, bumble bees, sweat bees, and leaf-cutter bees out there on the really nice days.  On the beach the blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella) and dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis) are still flowering nicely.  

I'll keep you posted if we get one more survey in this year!

Last night I was invited to give a talk to my local native plant society chapter, Sea Oats.  While the turnout was small (their normal monthly meeting time got changed for this month) the people that did come out seemed really into the talk.  I had lot's of great questions and comments, which always helps me with future talks.  I was also given a membership to the plant society, which is really exciting.  I look forward to working with many of them in the future and attending more meetings and seeing other great talks.

Hi fellow bee enthusiasts!  I will update this blog with info about the progress of the native bee survey as well as any other info I think others will find interesting. 

So far the survey is going great!  I started in March 2011 with the help of 4 wonderful volunteers.  We made it through the heat of summer and are hanging on until it gets cold.  If the bees are out, then we will be too!  I've been able to identifly roughly 60 species of native bees within the research reserve and I project the number to increase as there are many bees I can't identify myself.

Stay tuned for more info!  Until then, check out this interesting article:

Busy Bees Use Flower Petals For Nest Wallpaper