bee.otany

Borage officinalis or borage is a wonderful source of pollen, propolis, and nectar for honey bees.

"Not annual flower, annual pollen. Fast growing flowering 6 weeks after germination. Propagation from seeds, cuttings or root divisions.; The sugar in its nectar has been measured at 52% and produces a dark honey. Borage apparently secreted nectar throughout the day, and continues to yield even in cold weather." (The Xerces Society 2016. 100 Plants to Feed the Bees)

"An introduced plant much planted in America. Some consider borage the best annual to plant for bees and puts it in rows between his potatoes. Although often praised there seems no record of a surplus in US. The honey is believed to be very dark." (Lovell, H. B. (1966). Honey Plants Manual)

"...Minor commercial leaf, flower and seed crop. Annual to biennial. Flowers light purple to bluish. Long-flowering. Pellets white to grey. Bee factor 80%. Honey in Canada."(Johannsmeier, M. F. (2016). Beeplants of South Africa: Sources of Nectar, Pollen, Honeydew and Propolis for Honeybees)

Also known as beeplant, common borage, starflower and talewort. Komkommerkruid in Afrikaans; حمحم مخزني in Arabic; Borraja in Basque; Агурочнік лёкавы in Belarusian; Пореч in Bulgarian; Boražina in Croatian; brutnák lékařský in Czech; Almindelig Hjulkrone in Danish; Finnish kurkkuyrtti and purasruoho; bourrache officinale in French; borretsch, Einjähringer borretsch and gurkenkraut in German; Μπουράντζο in Greek; Borráiste gorm in Irish; borragine in Italian; ルリジサ in Japanese; gurkört in Swedish; Ogórecznik lekarski in polish; respectfully. via Encyclopedia of Life


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Late in the fall I threw down some borage seeds and because our winter has been so mild, they sprouted, grew and bloomed! Right now these winter bees are bringing home some highly nutritious food! Borage can quickly reseed and takeover a garden space if you let it, but it can easily be pulled up if it gets put of control.

Helleborus sp. commonly known as Hellebore is a good source of pollen and nectar for pollinators.

"…cherish hellebores, for their early appearance is a sign of spring…seeds collected in early summer are not ready…if you collect or buy seed, you must allow for or mimic…by providing a warm period followed by a chilled one…Handle these seeds with care. They contain glycosides, which are poisonous." (Dunn Chace, T., & Llewellyn, R. J. (2015). Seeing seeds)

Also known as خربق in Arabic, Ղանձլամեր in Armenian, Şaxtagülü in Azerbaijani, Кукуряк in Bulgarian, Kukurijek in Croatian, čemeřice in Czech, Nyserod in Danish, Lumeroos in Estonian, Jouluruusut in Finnish, Hellébore in French, ხარისძირა in Georgian, Nieswurz in German, Hunyor in Hungarian, Eileabar in Irish, Elleboro in Italian, ヘレボルス in Japanese, Julerose in Norwegian, Ciemiernik in Polish,
Морозник in Russian, Telohi in Spanish, Julrossläktet in Swedish, Чемерник in Ukrainian, respectively via Encyclopedia of Life

with
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Hellebores. Early Spring forage for our pollinators. 🌱

Check out Chris Alice Kratzer ( on Twitter) wonderful pocket guide for moths of North America! Can not wait for "THE SOCIAL WASPS OF NORTH AMERICA" COMING MID 2021!