Red Flowering Currant is a Classic Sign of Spring

One of my favourite spring plants is just about to reach the peak of its bloom in the Lower Mainland: red flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum). It is a favourite of Anna's hummingbirds who overwinter. Also, any day now the rufous hummingbirds will be returning from Mexico and they will be competing for the nectar from these fragrant blossoms.

You'll also find large overwintering bumblebee queens waking up on warm days and drink the nectar to fuel their search for a new nest. Bumblebees nest in rodent burrows and other cozy safe crevices large enough to accommodate their growing nest.

This queen is already gathering pollen, which means she had found a nest and already made her first waxed pot where she will lay her eggs and brood on them like a chicken. This pollen looks orange and waxy, so I'm not sure which flowers it is from--there's likely some dandelion pollen in there and some of the pollen from these currants. Check on the back legs of the bumble bees you're seeing and try to find out which flowers they are using to collect pollen.

 This is the yellow-faced bumblebee (Bombus vosnesenskii). It's the most common bumble bee you'll find in the Lower Mainland. The female is mostly black with a yellow head and shoulders and one yellow strip on the lower abdomen. I call them Vozzy Bears.

Each shrub has a unique colour profile for their blossoms which changes as the blossoms open, mature, and then fade. And the scent is spicy, fruity, with that lovely resinous scent of currant. Rub your fingers on the leaves and inhale that gorgeous aroma.

I'm taking photos of different shrubs in my neighbourhood.

The colours and mood of the blossoms change depending on what time of day you are observing them.

There's also a cultivar or "nativar"  of this shrub called White Icicle which is also gorgeous.

 It seems to have retained the quality of nectar and pollen that attracts bees and hummingbirds. So keep an eye out for hummers, bumble bees, honey bees, and blue orchard mason bees on these shrubs. The White Icicle shrubs I've seen seem to be very healthy and vigorous.

 

Salmonberry in my back yard

Some other shrubs to add to this plant are salmonberry, osoberry and Oregon grape. This will create a strong synergy of good habitat for hummers and bees.

Oregon Grape at the Riley Park Community Garden

Osoberry at the Riley Park Community Garden

It's also wonderful to underplant these with native violets, or cultivars of violets that are non invasive. Sea blush (Pectritus congesta) is a little Gary Oak cutie that also works well as an early ground cover. Pulmonaria is another good bee/hummer plant to add in.

Sea blush at the UBC Botanical Garden

This is a hedge that is getting to be well established in Riley Park. If you look very closely, you'll see a male Anna's hummingbirds very well camouflaged in the branches. One warm sunny days, it's also starting to buzz with bumble bee queens. 

A weed called purple deadnettle has established here as a groundcover. While I would not recommend planting it, we might as well leave it bee so the bees can collect the nectar and pollen. The same goes for the little blue forget-me-nots.

I hope I've inspired you to get out and enjoy the beauty of nature while practising safe social distancing. Bee well!