A Mining Bee and the Tricolored Gilia

The Tricolored or Bird's- Eye Gilia blossoms are attracting all kinds of bees, and it is such a treat to observe the bees as they collect the distinctive blue pollen from the blossoms.

Here, for example, is a mining bee genus Andrena, of which there are approximately 261 species in California. These are soil nesting bees, and are some of the first to fly in the Spring.

Look at all that blue pollen in the bee's basket.

Approaching a cluster of tricolor gilia blossoms.....

.....and diving into a blossom.