With the late and wet start to the summer this year, there were lots of people wondering what happened to the bumblebees.

I was one of them, but I knew that they don’t usually show up until the bee balm starts blooming, so I wasn’t too worried. Only a few showed up then, though.

It wasn’t until the joe-pye weed, purple giant hyssop, and cup plant reached full bloom that the bumblebees arrived en masse.

And now, whenever it’s sunny, the front yard is in constant motion.

Bumblebees on cup plant, with a monarch flyby at the end:

Bumblebees on purple giant hyssop:

Not just bumblebees, but other bees too.

The only thing I haven’t seen much of this year is honeybees.

Where are the bees? In my yard. Plant native flowers, and you’ll see bees, too.