Flower Watch

Bird's-foot trefoil, Lotus Corniculatus,
photo courtesy of Tim McGee

"Today was a bit of a field trip day for me to locate food sources and observe nectar gathering. I watched honeybees on birdsfoot trefoil, milkweed, thistle, and basswood," writes my beehive neighbor, Tim McGee. He sent a couple photos of major nectar producers currently in bloom that "bees love."

Monarch on common milkweed
MBGNA file photo

One is bird's-foot trefoil. or Lotus corniculatus, which resembles a tiny yellow lady's slipper orchid. Unlike the lady's slipper, bird's-foot trefoil is a non-native. The Arb & Gardens's curator, David Michener, tells me that this plant is not officially designated as an invasive species in Michigan yet,  but, "It does have a tendency to take over. I wouldn't recommend planting them in your garden." He tells me it is already designated as invasive in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and is commonly found volunteering along freeways in Michigan.

Common milkweed in the field
Courtesy of Tim McGee

Tim's other photo is common milkweed, or Asclepius syriaca. I love milkweed and have it all over my home garden in many varieties. When you plant common milkweed, not only are you feeding the bees, you are also helping build a highway for monarch butterflies, who depend on its leaves for food during the caterpillar stage. Monarchs, like honey bees, are also in decline due to loss of habitat and other factors.