I live in Clermont, also and I see a few here and there. They go where there are lots of flowers. I'm not sure what exactly is in bloom around this area. I'm impressed with your sunflowers. I just put about 25 tithonias (Mexican sunflowers) into the ground the last few days. They are great butterfly attractors.

I planted purple salvia last year. It grew into a huge bush. Can't walk near it because its buzzing with bees. Look for it. It is the old variety and grows tall. The newer hybrids do not attract bees, but the old variety does.

I bought it at a small nursery which sells plants which attract butterflies and bees.

Last year I noticed my Mango tree was flowering and I couldn't see a single bee anywhere. I became concerned because my neighbors spray all the time. I did not get any Mango's.

I was concerned about my citrus trees and decided to look for bee magnets to attract them. Bought the Salvia and it took off. This year I must have at least 50 baby Mango's, lots of baby lemons and my orange tree is just starting to bloom.

I've planted sunflowers in the past and they are not the magnets like other flowering plants. Look for older varieties, non hybrid flowering plants. I think they will come.

Jane

Jane, you don't happen to know the name of the salvia, do you? For me, the best salvia has been Amistad. It is newer and better, in my opinion, the hummers really love it, so it must have a lot of nectar. It has turned out to be quite hardy. The hard freeze that we had last year didn't seem to bother it at all.

The bees really love the small white flowers on my Lingustrum tree. My son has called it "the bee tree" because it attracts so many bees when it is in bloom. I think it is just starting to bloom now.

Clfdoc, since you live in Clermont we should hook up and compare notes. Let me know if you are interested.

My Amistad Salvia gets big and is usually full of bees. I have four now because bees and hummingbirds love them so much. It is a darker purple than pictured. This is right after I first planted it. Its a lot bigger now. I mostly see large bees like Carpenter Bees on the sunflowers.

I"m in Gainesville, and I have seen some solitary wasps, but no bees yet, but I don't have any flowers yet this year since the hibiscus died back.

Dirtygardener, if you want to see some hummingbirds go to Jonesville Park Soccer Fields early in the morning or later in the afternoon. There is a fence that is almost a block long that is covered by coral honeysuckle. My son used to play soccer there and I enjoyed seeing the hummers. They were there even though people were all around.

Get yourself some of these for the yard.

I haven't noticed too many bees on my mango flowers, don't think they are a big pollinator for mango. Mostly I see small housefly sized flies and smaller gnat sized flying things working the flowers.

We have dill growing for the black swallowtail butterflies and they are blooming now, bees are all over that, the bottle brush and the powder puff. My Mexican sunflowers get tons of butterflies, bumble/mason type bees, some wasps, larger housefly sized flies with a yellow butt (maybe pollen), and a occasional honey bee. Honey bees are on the Gallardia in the yard and the Spanish needle on other side of the fence (until the city mows it in a few months).

That's no kidding, we have thought about it!

You on the East coast, Dangermouse? My impression is that the West coast of Florida gets more hummingbirds than the East, but butterflies seem to be pretty much the same. Those beehive frames are impressive. Are they in your yard?

Yes, East coast. The hummingbirds I get (ruby throats) over Winter around my yard, arriving in August and then leave in early April. Last saw them about 2 weeks ago. Miss them.

Yes, the hives are in my backyard. Hive on the left I got just about 5.5 gallons of honey (58 Lbs) last spring/summer. Hive on the right was started last year, so nothing harvested from it last year. But will this year.

I live in a residential neighborhood, lot size about .26 ac.

Does anyone grow Borage? I started several plants this spring. Bees,love them. They have pretty blue flowers that can be used in salads.

I haven't. Thanks for the tip.

Can it take the hot Florida sun?

Jane

Tom, here's a pic of the Salvia.

Jane

Jane, it looks like a salvia that's called "Dark Knight" or sometimes "Black Knight." It isn't a common salvia. It seems to do well where there aren't hard freezes. What do you think?

I'm looking for black-and-blue salvia, but it hasn't shown up in any of the stores last time I looked. I want to put more salvias in my garden this year. I tried growing some from seed last year, but they didn't do well.

Do you have Amistad? It's the best, in my opinion, more hardy, blooms more and gets bigger than B&B. In the hummingbird forum they are talking up Black and Bloom.

Is Amistad perennial? Yes, Black and Blue does attract the hummingbirds like mad! I have to find something to feed them, since they can't feed on the hibiscus right now. I'm going to get a feeder, but I prefer to give them flowers.

Yes, Amistad is a perennial. It is now being offered in many places. It blooms much more than Black and Blue and the hummers love it.

Hey Tom, know where to find Amistad in our Clermont area?

The Cabbage Patch had them last week. Last month Biosphere in Winter Garden also had some. If you want some cuttings just let me know.