My Wildlife Allotment: Crocuses and bumblebees

Spring has started early this year. We already had temperatures of about 20 C, and we are still in February! The warm sunshine has brought out the bumblebees. The first to emerge are the queens which will be very hungry after hibernation. The first thing the queens will do after emerging is looking for food to fill their empty stomachs. Not many plants flower at this time of year but normally there are always some dandelions, lesser celandine and cherry plum flowers to be found.

Crocuses are good pollinator plants as well, offering pollen and nectar which also attract other early pollinators such as solitary bees and hoverflies.

A carpet of yellow and purple crocuses

Buff-tailed bumblebee queen

Years ago I planted a handful of different crocus bulbs on the allotment. They have thrived and multiplied and I now have small carpets of yellow and purple crocuses in different areas on the allotment which look really pretty. They also attract bumblebee queens.

Often the queens are starved and weak after hibernating for months, crawling from flower to flower instead of flying, getting stronger while drinking the nectar. Once the stomach is full they will start searching for suitable nesting sites but not without frequently coming back to my crocuses to fill up again on the sweet nectar.

Hungry bumblebee queen

Often, freshly emerged queens are quite weak and need food quickly


Two red-tailed bumblebee queens

If you don`t have crocuses in your garden plant some! They are pretty, easy to please and good for pollinators. Best planting time is from September to November. They like sunshine but also grow in half-shade. Crocuses don`t need any watering or other care, these little flowers pretty much look after themselves. What more can you wish for. And don`t forget to look for bumblebee queens in early spring!