Possibly Primrose Jasmine shrub?

I was going to suggest a jasmine also. Mine has been blooming for a few weeks now and is still going. Makes my allergies go haywire, but it sure is pretty.

That's an interesting question. In chillier eastern climes, the winter-blooming shrubs are witch hazel and "january jessamine," a ropy plant that is sometimes confused with the early-spring-blooming forsythia, and all these are yellow. The earliest crocus I know of is yellow. None of these flowers are fragrant.

I'd guess it has something to do with the sensory equipment of early-season pollinators, whatever they are.

However, in the East we have a second "yellow season" in July and August when many compositae bloom. These are mostly large perennials that grow in sunny, meadowy places.

YES - thank you so much! It is definitely jasminum nesnyi, which makes sense, as it is native to China like a lot of everygreen long-lived shrubs around here.

I just went out into the garden and noticed another shrub that is currently blooming in yellow - the barberry bush (I call it the "barbarous barberry" because ours is 20 ft by 20 ft by 10 feet high, and is always trying to snag unsuspecting vehicles with its awful thorns). Birds like to nest in it (presumably because NOTHING is going to try to climb it), so it has redeeming features.

Jackie

Your jasmine is lovely, Jackie! So bright and cheerful.

I think Michael may be right and that bright yellow color is the one that really attracts pollinators at this time of year. I'm sure even on a cloudy day it must stand out beautifully. The softer and darker colors wouldn't show up and get pollinated to continue the species on these gray days.

Yellow attracts more insects, including pollinators. Yellow reflects a lot of light rays so more insects are attracted to it. If you notice, the spring rose growth which traditionally has more aphid activity tends to be the more yellow-green. Of course, you'll find the buggers on virtually all colors, but they seem to hit the more yellow ones first. I will NOT wear yellow while gardening because it attracts insects of all types. Sticky traps are most commonly yellow as are fly no pest strips. My theory is that flower and foliage color is most successful in the symbiotic relationship between the plants and insects. Kim

I never thought if it that way, but indeed. My carolina jasmine is starting to bloom, and in a few weeks will be a giant yellow blob. Daffodils (yellow) coming up, and poppies (yellow, orange and pink). I like your theory Kim.

I agree with Kim. In my garden I would add blue though. There is ceanothus and veronica and some other things.

Thanks so much, everyone. I too like the idea of pollinators being able to "see" yellow better this time of year, with its shorter hours of light and more clouds.

Whatever the reason, it does make for a lovely look in the garden and neighborhood and all over the hills - everywhere you look is the bright green of new growth and bright yellow flowers.

Jackie

um. mine is still tending towards white and green.

I love your Jasmine mesnyi Jackie. It grows welll here in Crete too.
A few weeks ago, I drove around the Bay of Mirabello and found this....

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Daisy

That's beautiful Daisy. I wish it wasn't too tender to grow here.

Wow! Thanks Daisy - I will have to keep an eye on mine! I thought it was being uber rambunctious when part of it decided to climb up our hawthorne tree, but now I see that it is really restrained compared to what it could do - luckily it is in a hedge that runs along our driveway, so it gets pruned back each early Summer right after it stops blooming.

Jackie