Honeybees on oregano

Honeybees foraging oregano

Interesting to look at the pollen-filled "saddlebags".  Those represent a lot of pollen collecting by the hard working honeybee.

Lots of honeybees on the oregano flowers.

Viewing the enthusiasm honeybees show for oregano, I should plant a lot more of it next year in the bee garden.  It's a bit too big for the iris / culinary herb beds.

Iris Bed #3. Moving established clumps.

Iris Clumps about to be planted.

Iris "American Classic" in new location.

 These are bearded Irises, moved from Vancouver to Battleground.  They needed more room. I'm phasing out some of the plantings at Vancouver, for lower maintenance there.  At the Battleground place they will have a lot more sunshine, and more room.  These clumps were 2 to 3 years old.

I moved "American Classic", "Kissed by the Sun", and the heritage variety, "Accent".

Of these, the "American Classic" and "Accent"  are very vigorous.  :Kissed by the Sun" is not.  That one might or might not have a blooming rhizome next year.  The others look like they will have 4 to 7 blooming rhizomes.

I dug these up.  Tried to get all of the roots with minimal disturbance.  Placed into plastic bags, transported, and planted them with as minimal disturbance as I could.  Trimmed off leaves with leaf spot infections, and watered them in.

Hot day, mid 80s.  Since they had minimal disturbance, I think they will be impressive next year.

Irises re-planted.  "Accent", "American Classic", & "Kissed by the Sun".

This bed is gradually becoming Iris Bed #3.  It will be mostly modern varieties.  There are a few heritage varieties in
this bed as well.

Iris Tags.  Purchased May 2012

Fruit from the garden

Lattarula figs, Shiro plums, Blackberries

Mulberries

NoID Plum

Fresh fruit from the garden.  Lattarula figs, Shiro plums, wild Himalayan Blackberries.

Mulberry has a few remaining berries.

Unknown plum variety at the Battleground place.  Still very firm.  Next year maybe there will be more bees and more flowers on nearby pollinating varieties.

Crimson Pointe plums

 I've been waiting for the 4 plums on the "Crimson Pointe" ornamental plum to ripen.  Last week they were rock hard.  Today there were none on the tree.  I found 2 on the ground, rinsed them off, and ate them.  They were absolutely delicious - tasted like red wine.  Mildly sweet, mildly sour.  Perfect balance.  I just planted this tree last year.  It's not listed as an edible plum.  That's possibly because they fall off when ripe.  But those plums were so good.

Culled Fig Tree Starts. Fig Mosaic Virus

Culled due to FMV

These fig starts are about to be culled.  They have much less vigor, compared to the others I started.

From what I read, FMV is ubiquitous.  Fig Mosaic Virus.  So I shouldn't need to worry about transmitting virus from one to another.

However, I also read there are multiple viruses that cause Fig Mosaic Disease.  What happens with infection by multiple viruses?

Fig Mosaic Disease

Since these are growing so poorly, I will discard them.  Most are Violette de Bordeaux.  One or two are Black Marseilles.

Disappointed, but this is responsible garden epidemiology.

I have Petite negri (possible Aubique pettite) which is very productive, despite evidence for FMD.  Young King Fig (Desert King) shows FMD, but grows out of it and is very vigorous.  But these starts have had their chance, and I don't want to, possibly, add new infections to my collection.

Bee forage now. Late July.

Oregano flowers

I should keep better track of what is blooming, what has foraging bees, and what doesn't.

Oregano just started blooming.  I don't have a lot of oregano, but they are covered with honeybees.

Lavender is blooming.  Lots of honeybees and bumble bees.

Caryopteris continues blooming.  Honeybees and bumble bees.

Shallots just stopped blooming and have set seeds.  They bloomed about 2 or 3 weeks.  They were covered by honeybees.

Chinese chives are almost finished blooming.  I don't have a lot.  They should be more prolific next year.  Bees foraged the chive flowers frequently.

White clover and dandelions - occasional bees.

Catnip - starting to bloom.  Occasional honeybees and occasional small pollinating bees.  As these continue to bloom, bees are more active on the catnip blossoms.

Buddleia - rare bumble bee visitors.  In full bloom now, although "Miss Molly" and "Miss Ruby" are dwindling a bit.  "Blueberry Cobbler" just started.

Sweet alyssum, thyme, marigolds - I have not seen bees visiting these.  They are in full bloom.

About to bloom:  Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Spearmint.