Identify the source of your bees’ pollen loads. Here are some photographs of bees caught in the act of gathering pollen.
Click on each little thumbnail picture for an expanded view of the pollen colour.
By the way – there’s always some doubt about the accuracy of the colour of pollen loads when rendered on a computer but where these bees are photographed on the flower – if the flower looks the right colour then the colour of the pollen load is probably pretty accurate too.
Snowdrops (Gallanthus nivalis)
Crocus
Another Crocus
Winter garden heathers (Erica spp.)
Gorse (Ulex europaeaus)
Dandelion (Tarraxacum spp.)
Sycamore (Acer pseodoplatanus)
Yellow willow (Salix spp) pollen and brown gorse (Ulex)
Hazel Catkins
Mahonia
Clematis montana rubens
Dark red Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) pollen
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Blue rosebay willowherb pollen, yellow lime pollen and pale grey blackberry pollen
Yellow lime (Tillia spp.) pollen
Blue rosebay willowherb (Epilobium or Chamerion angustifolium) pollen and pale grey blackberry pollen
Bee with corbiculae stuffed with sticky propolis
Close-up of denim blue rosebay willowherb (Epilobium or Chamerion angustifolium) pollen loads
I’m an artist working with pollen and wondered if you could help me. At the moment I have yellow, orange, grey/pale purple-ish, brown, green and a sort of mustard colour but I’m looking for more colours – pink, lilac, pale cream (if poss) or any other colours really. Do you know where I might be able to buy these colours?
I don’t know where you are based but if you are in Europe, hawthorn will be coming into bloom soon and the pollen loads are pale cream.
I don’t recall ever seeing pink or lilac pollen loads here. Certain garden flowers may have the pollen colours you want but it’s unlikely the bees would bring in enough for you.
Your best bet is to talk to your local beekeeper and persuade or negotiate with him, or her, to install a pollen trap into one of his or her hives. The pollen trap can then be emptied periodically and you can sort through the loads and pick out the ones you like the look of.
Hope this helps.
Yes, I do too. So much information on one reading. The range of photos are so informative and a real ‘bonus’ ( though this word doesn’t do the way you’ve composed and assembled your knowledge on both origins of trees through a plethora of knowledgeable all the way to
colourations of pollen and food sources for bees!) I hope you’ve continued your writing; it’s a magnet for enjoyment & absorbing details.
I’m an artist working with pollen and wondered if you could help me. At the moment I have yellow, orange, grey/pale purple-ish, brown, green and a sort of mustard colour but I’m looking for more colours – pink, lilac, pale cream (if poss) or any other colours really. Do you know where I might be able to buy these colours?
I don’t know where you are based but if you are in Europe, hawthorn will be coming into bloom soon and the pollen loads are pale cream.
I don’t recall ever seeing pink or lilac pollen loads here. Certain garden flowers may have the pollen colours you want but it’s unlikely the bees would bring in enough for you.
Your best bet is to talk to your local beekeeper and persuade or negotiate with him, or her, to install a pollen trap into one of his or her hives. The pollen trap can then be emptied periodically and you can sort through the loads and pick out the ones you like the look of.
Hope this helps.
Maybe anemone pollen could be lilac.
Garden mignonette can possibly get you to a pink. Hope this helps.
I love your website
Bill
Thanks Bill!
Yes, I do too. So much information on one reading. The range of photos are so informative and a real ‘bonus’ ( though this word doesn’t do the way you’ve composed and assembled your knowledge on both origins of trees through a plethora of knowledgeable all the way to
colourations of pollen and food sources for bees!) I hope you’ve continued your writing; it’s a magnet for enjoyment & absorbing details.
Thanks Juls.
I does me best!