Late Summer Bee Rendezvous with Goldenrod

This bee has no problem with a snootful of goldenrod pollen. During these last few weeks of summer the goldenrod is in full bloom around the Midwest. At Hannen Lake park near Blairstown, Iowa there are large patches of goldenrod stretching around the park and surrounding pastures. Multiple bees were out in numbers doing their thing, spreading the pollen around.

Purple Buzz on a Noxious Weed

A bee gathers pollen from a flowering Canada thistle today in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The thistle is regarded as a pesky noxious weed in these parts but can be quite beautiful if not on your property. Fortunately this purple flowered weed is located on an empty lot in the 2008 flood zone close to the Newbo area of Cedar Rapids. Someday some commercial venture will once again occupy this space but until then...a bee is happy.