Have you ever wondered after taking a bite of nature’s delicious gold if Honeybees are the animals that can produce this delicious treat?
The answer really has two answers both yes and no so let’s dive right on into the hive and find out!
The answer is no Honeybees are not the only insects that make honey!
Bumblebees make honey but it cannot be collected and used for by humans. However, Bumblebees only make enough honey for the colony to be able to survive on bad weather days when they are not safe to leave the colony.
Another group of insects that produces honey is wasps! There are over 17 species of Wasps that produce honey and one specific species that is known for its honey is the Mexican Honey Wasp or B. mellifica. This wasp’s honey is considered a delicacy in some cultures of Mexico. They also provide pest control and help to pollinate avocados.
Hornets and Yellow Jackets do not produce honey.
So, as you all can see Honeybees are not the only insects that produce honey, but it doesn’t make that honey taste any less sweeter!
These are just a few of the many flowers that will attract hummingbirds to your backyard!
1. Zinnias
With their beautiful bright colors and tall stems, giant zinnias are a great add to any backyard flower garden when your trying to attract hummingbirds. Also dwarf zinnias are great as well and attract the hummingbirds just as much as the giant ones do!
2. Red Salvia
Salvia is one of my personal favorites to add to the pollinator garden as not only does their bright red appearances make your garden pop but the red color also helps attract the hummingbirds to your garden!
3. Geraniums
This one I call the “stinky plant” and I’ll explain why in the minute. Just like salvia their bright appearance truly causes your garden to glow with red flowers and with this attracts hummingbirds to your garden. The reason why I call it the “stinky plant” is because when the flower is disturbed it produces an odor that smells very similar to skunk spray.
4. Petunias
Petunias is another great add on to any garden who is trying to attract hummingbirds. The hummingbirds love the flowers due to their tubular-shaped appearance and their nectar!
5. Sunflowers
Now this one sounds like a weird choice, but hummingbirds truly love sunflowers. You can either purchase seeds in a prepackaged packet or you can just sow bird seed sunflower seeds.
6. Tomatoes
I know that this is again a weird choice but hummingbirds love to collect the nectar from the tomato blooms on the vine.
7. Hummingbird Vine
Just like its name these beautiful vines that produce trumpet shaped flowers attract hummingbirds very well to your garden.
8. Butterfly Bush
Butterfly bushes is a bush that produces a stem with dozens of small flowers attached to the end of each stem and these small flowers produces pollen for hummingbirds to eat!
9. Hollyhocks
With their cup shaped flowers, these are a great addition to anyone’s hummingbird garden.
10. Lupines
Last but not least is the Lupine. Lupines are flowering plants that have colorful spikes on top of the stem with tubular flowers making them a favorite among hummingbirds.
I hope this helps all of you who are trying to attract our hummingbird friends!
Gracie Latrelle 