I don't have any open flowers, so I assume the bees are elsewhere. When my pytrocanthia bloomed it was covered with bees. Not sure if the freeze threw everything off. I have some butterflies, but it usually gets busy in mid-late summer.

I have also noted a lack of bees and butterflies. My upright verbena is usually a favorite of both. I have only seen the stray bumblebee on them.
I have a good amount of annuals and periennials in bloom. The freeze could have impacted the butterflies but, shouldn't be a problem for the bees.

I have been inundated with bees and wasps. Not butterflies though. I seem to recall seeing more of those last year but more bees than normal this year. Very heavy on the bees.

I'm not sure about butterflies, but check out the beekeeping forum or look online for information about Colony Collapse Disorder. Many, many honeybees have died this past year and no one knows why yet. Scientists are trying to figure it out now.

I think I have an explanation...
They've all left their hives to come to my house! :-)

T.G.I.F.

quirkyquercus,

I wish I could say the same thing you are saying. I've seen exactly three honeybees at my house this entire year. Lots of bumblebees, though, which aren't affected by colony collapse disorder. In fact I've heard speculation that honeybees and bumblebees are competitors, and that in the absence of honeybees we may be seeing more bumblebees because they have no competition this year. Are the bees at your house honeybees, or bumblebees, or other kinds of bees? I don't think native bees are supposed to have been affected by this, either, or at least I'm hoping they aren't.

Hello:
Westender, I first noticed the lack of bees immediately after the frost, just because there had been so many before it. I went to the beekeeping forum and read about the colony collapse disorder, scary. Some guy who had to work for Archer Daniels Midland was slapping down everyone who said anything about genetically modified crops! I hope the scientists find out something soon. I saw some native mason type bees yesterday.

Quirkyquercus, I'm thrilled to hear that you still have so many...send us all some please! It is just really unnerving not to have the usual buzz of bees in the yard; shades of "Silent Spring."

i have been in the garden all day today and have seen many bees and a few butterflies. lets hope that they return everywhere soon

I saw a few bees too. Probably because my roses are starting to open, FINALLY!

I'm sure glad to hear that they are still around elsewhere. It has been really eerie not hearing their buzzing in the flower garden.

It is like half a garden with no action! I haven't seen even ONE honeybee this year. I saw one miserable little bumblebee yesterday. The thing is, I have lots of great nectar plants in bloom now which normally would be covered in bees, but it is silent. I think we are seeing the "silent spring" Rachel Carson talked about. I think we have fiddled too much with the environment.