We are proud to present a few of the bees we see at Rancho Incognito (plus 1 imposter), and the wildflowers, weeds, and plants they visit. This just scratches the surface, so we spend lots of time with camera in hand, tromping through the meadow down by the Brazos. We are always adding new pictures.
A note to beekeepers...
Two thousand years ago the Greek Philosopher Aristotle noticed a foraging honey bee will only visit one plant specie of blossom during a single foraging trip. Today we call this behavior “Flower Constancy”. The color of pollen in a honey bee’s pollen basket in these pictures is the pollen color of the blossom she is visiting.
![Texas Prickly Poppy (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623667302449-JK0FWCEYGI6F6HHGXKR8/HBPoppyFlying2MB.jpg)
Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)
Argemone aurantiaca G.B. Ownbey
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica))
![Genovese Basil (herb)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1661225711883-E2071DSW1KLPQRPDBOHK/BeeOnBasil.jpg)
Lamiaceae (mint family)
Ocimun basilicum
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
![Texas Thistle (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623127676206-JUQFMVZOQHJJFKM4XHHY/BeesOnTxThistle02.png)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Cirsium texanum Buckley
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
![Indian Blanket (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623127715293-GJ8L2ZLI177KOVR02AUB/blanketflower03.jpg)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Gaillardia pulchella Foug.
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica))
![Topeka Purple Coneflower (landscape plant)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623666236309-Z21LLZNJ4YE7UIDAP6N7/ConeFlower1247PostNEF.jpg)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Echinacea atrorubens Nutt.
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica))
![Texas Prickly Poppy (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623127750857-XPLMRT5XTS4FZXUN35MF/HBonPricklyPoppy.png)
Papaveraceae (Poppy Family)
Argemone aurantiaca G.B. Ownbey
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica))
![Wandering Jew (Landscape Plant](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1661819436611-L4RM00MYFBWFKRTFJDRZ/HBOnPurpleHeart.png)
Tradescantio (Spiderwort family)
T. pallida purpurea (Purple Heart)
Apis meliferra ligustica (Italian Honey Bee)
Cucurbitaceae (Gourd Family)
Cucumis melo
Sweat Bee (Agapostemon melliventris)
Agavaceae (Century-Plant Family)
Hesperaloe parviflora (Torr.) J.M. Coult.
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Lamium amplexicaule
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
![Bee Balm (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623484884755-VDPXCYYNY97CDKQF6WGD/CuckooBee01.jpg)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Monarda citriodora
Longhorn-Cuckoo Bee (Triepeolus remigatus)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Taraxacum officinale
Italian Honey Bee (Apis melifera ligustica)
![Russian Sage (landscape plant)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623128491290-Y78HOSEBCK3DULNJEI54/RussianSageHB011632.jpg)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Salvia yangii
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera lingustica)
![Arugula (Vegetable Garden)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623128708653-NXFVO2WC3V00BPZOY2F0/HBonArugula.jpg)
Brassicaceae (Mustards Family)
Eruca vesicaria
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
![Carolina Wooly White (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623163423915-FHWRAUVOAFD63U4G2EUB/IMG_2624.jpg)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Hymenopappus scabiosaeus L'Hér
Bee Look-A-Like (Not a bee)
Yellow-Shouldered Drone Fly (Eristalis stipator)
![Black Medic (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623128705914-FHEALJ0VYYVAA74C2LXW/HBonBurrClover.jpg)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Medico lupulina
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica))
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Trifolium vesculosum
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Monarda dydima
Long-Horned Bee (Svastra spp)
![Bee Balm (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623185528989-O2853ZFCAOYQASKZIWHV/BeeBalmFlying+01576.png)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Monarda citriodora
Itallian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
![Cowpen Daisy (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623710759937-J6NWOXPZBNN8EU8XDGLD/IMG_2641.png)
Asteracaeae (Aster Family)
Verbena encelioides
American Bumblebee (Bombus pensylvanicus)
![Boneset](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1663781135360-AN9Q93YMQ5EOYW1Q2P8W/BeeOnBonset.jpg)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Eupatorium perfoliatum
Italian Honey Bee (apis mellifera ligustica)
![Blanket Flower (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623985511969-QBSC6GE3TOY10PHQBSOV/LeafCutterWithPollen.png)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Gaillardia pulchella Foug.
Leafcutter Bee ((Megachile spp)
![Bee Balm (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1624082792374-QHJ0OVELQPX4RRU4KB6Z/CarpenterBee.png)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Monarda citriodora
Large Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa spp.)
![Morning Glory (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1631369422474-SGK59VPD5CP2TO4HT1IT/MorningGlory02.png)
Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family)
Calystegia sepium
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica))
![Frost Weed (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1632967764395-81I864NX1YKHVY06OW8W/Frostweed02.png)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Verbina virginica L.
Italian Honeybee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
![Peppermint](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1633509565955-B5MI5SNWHKMA2ZN4D72D/BeeOnMint.png)
Lamiaceae (mint family)
Mentha peperita
Italian Honeybee (A. mellifera lingustica)
![Russian Sage (Landscape Shrub)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1661225171605-QJ4IBD4P916S2YDSXXIK/BeeOnRussianSage.jpg)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Salvia yangii
Cuckoo Bee (Halicitidae sphecodea)
![Texas Sage (Landscape Shrub)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1661225418678-RAW9HOAYK9JWBI2KL7C6/BeeOnTexasSage.jpg)
Serophulariacea
Leucophyllum frutescens
Italian Honey Bee (apis mellifera ligustica)
![Salvia (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1663783021364-1UC6VD8XD0UFTM6WTN7R/HBOnSalvia.jpg)
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Salvia splendens
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
![Fall Purple Aster (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1667074218995-1HG5DUVLJ3QM51MU7BSV/HBonAster.jpg)
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Asteraceae Spp
Italian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera ligustica)
![Rosemary (herb garden)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1703341658936-B71E6UOMQ4961BCXNU3N/IMG_0002.jpeg)
(Rosemarinus officinalis)
Italian Honey Bee (apis mellifera ligustica)
![Texas Prickly Poppy (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623667302449-JK0FWCEYGI6F6HHGXKR8/HBPoppyFlying2MB.jpg)
![Genovese Basil (herb)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1661225711883-E2071DSW1KLPQRPDBOHK/BeeOnBasil.jpg)
![Texas Thistle (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623127676206-JUQFMVZOQHJJFKM4XHHY/BeesOnTxThistle02.png)
![Indian Blanket (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623127715293-GJ8L2ZLI177KOVR02AUB/blanketflower03.jpg)
![Topeka Purple Coneflower (landscape plant)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623666236309-Z21LLZNJ4YE7UIDAP6N7/ConeFlower1247PostNEF.jpg)
![Texas Prickly Poppy (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623127750857-XPLMRT5XTS4FZXUN35MF/HBonPricklyPoppy.png)
![Wandering Jew (Landscape Plant](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1661819436611-L4RM00MYFBWFKRTFJDRZ/HBOnPurpleHeart.png)
![Bee Balm (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623484884755-VDPXCYYNY97CDKQF6WGD/CuckooBee01.jpg)
![Russian Sage (landscape plant)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623128491290-Y78HOSEBCK3DULNJEI54/RussianSageHB011632.jpg)
![Arugula (Vegetable Garden)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623128708653-NXFVO2WC3V00BPZOY2F0/HBonArugula.jpg)
![Carolina Wooly White (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623163423915-FHWRAUVOAFD63U4G2EUB/IMG_2624.jpg)
![Black Medic (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623128705914-FHEALJ0VYYVAA74C2LXW/HBonBurrClover.jpg)
![Bee Balm (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623185528989-O2853ZFCAOYQASKZIWHV/BeeBalmFlying+01576.png)
![Cowpen Daisy (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623710759937-J6NWOXPZBNN8EU8XDGLD/IMG_2641.png)
![Boneset](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1663781135360-AN9Q93YMQ5EOYW1Q2P8W/BeeOnBonset.jpg)
![Blanket Flower (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1623985511969-QBSC6GE3TOY10PHQBSOV/LeafCutterWithPollen.png)
![Bee Balm (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1624082792374-QHJ0OVELQPX4RRU4KB6Z/CarpenterBee.png)
![Morning Glory (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1631369422474-SGK59VPD5CP2TO4HT1IT/MorningGlory02.png)
![Frost Weed (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1632967764395-81I864NX1YKHVY06OW8W/Frostweed02.png)
![Peppermint](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1633509565955-B5MI5SNWHKMA2ZN4D72D/BeeOnMint.png)
![Russian Sage (Landscape Shrub)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1661225171605-QJ4IBD4P916S2YDSXXIK/BeeOnRussianSage.jpg)
![Texas Sage (Landscape Shrub)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1661225418678-RAW9HOAYK9JWBI2KL7C6/BeeOnTexasSage.jpg)
![Salvia (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1663783021364-1UC6VD8XD0UFTM6WTN7R/HBOnSalvia.jpg)
![Fall Purple Aster (wildflower)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1667074218995-1HG5DUVLJ3QM51MU7BSV/HBonAster.jpg)
![Rosemary (herb garden)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a0e0c2f2278e727afa7b9e2/1703341658936-B71E6UOMQ4961BCXNU3N/IMG_0002.jpeg)