They have been all over my cross vine for weeks.

I am growing about 50 Echeandia texensis for my local bee Keeper on the other side of the hill. The bees just love to hang off the blossoms come fall.

Agarita, crossvine and Pride of Houston yaupon have been honeybee magnets all week.

Carrie, were your hives damaged by the hail? How long have you had them? I've thought about keeping bees and wondered how much work they are.

Mara, the Echeandia Texensis look interesting. I take it they are deer resistant? I'll have to look at adding some of those on my property. I've cleared a bunch of cedar so there are some open grassy areas now.

I just potted up 60 tiny seedlings into 4" pots. I have seen them down at Barton Springs Nursery but they are not there always. mine will be ready for the ground in the fall. I can also grab a bunch of seed for you so speak up.. I do not normally save the seed ( fall time seed), I throw some in a couple of pots outside and then wait for them to sprout in the spring. They do not volunteer on my land. They might volunteer on sandy soil or clay. They are a FAR south texas plant native but cold hardy in OKC. and I have one plant that is 15Years old, so I guess the deer haven't been interested in it yet.

I'd love some seed, Mara. Thanks! The bluestem and sacaton grasses are doing well that I started from your seed.

That is good to hear.

Remind me about the seed around October.

The bee hives seem to be okay...............they have metal tops on them. We have a beekeeper that tends them for us now. My husband did at one time, but work kept getting in the way.

I saw a bee yesterday. Seriously - a single bee and I was excited. Sad. There used to be so many buzzing around in the clover and I just don't see them hardly anymore.

I have lots of them . I even had a whole hive zoom overly head and land in a tree by me and then take off looking for a new home.

I was happy to see this string and that some people still have them in plenty! I've got lots of other flying stuff, including bumblebees, just not the honeybees too much. (and as an aside........if there is some environmental something affecting the bees adversely, I sure wish it would have that same effect on houseflies and mosquitoes.....)

Are you in an area of a lot of agriculture? It might be all the spraying that makes the difference. There are not many neighbors around me and no mass agriculture.