Pumpkin nectar

This pumpkin blossom is a hit with the bees. Nectar for all!

Pumpkin nectar and bees

Yard art

Anyone turning into our driveway at the blueberry farm can’t help but notice our version of yard art – a woodpile. It probably wouldn’t have happened without some leftover shingles for a roof and a telephone pole to stabilize one end. With this start it became a reality. We hope it cheers you as it does us.

welcome!

Bluebeard and bees

Bluebeard (caryopteris incana) is a favorite of bees and bumblebees.

Bumblebee enjoying Bluebeard.

Sedum for late summer forage.

Sedum is another one of those plants with many small blossoms that bees have a fondness for. They blossom at a time when other plants have ceased flowering.

Sedum

Blueberry juice and bees

One variety of blueberry wasn’t harvested this year and many of the berries have dropped to the ground. The bees are sucking the juice anywhere they can find access to the berry. It would be interesting to know what kind of honey comes from blueberry juice! Notice the naturally dried blueberries.

Blueberry juice for bees

Rhododendron – Indumentum

Here on the blueberry farm we have a collection of Rhododendrons. Getting ready to plant the rhododendron Teddy Bear we were struck by the indumentum on the underside of the leaves. Indumentum is the fuzzy brown/orange hairs shown in the picture.

Teddy Bear

Even when planted, Teddy Bear proudly displays it’s indumentum.

Rhododendron - Teddy Bear

Japenese Knotweed invasion

With the rare exception, Japenese Knotweed grows profusely on the side of the ditch that is mowed by the city mower. It makes one wonder if the mower is instrumental in it’s spread. Another area mowed is along the Pitt river dike. Pictured below is part of an extensive Knotweed patch with logs in the Pitt river as background.

Pitt river dike

A nearby beekeeper with many hives is the source of numerous bees on the Knotweed.

Japanese Knotweed blossoms

Fermented blueberry juice helps with weight loss

Lab animals responded to fermented blueberry juice by showing reduced blood sugar levels which translates into a potential for weight loss and control of diabetes.

A Canadian study has found that enhanced blueberry juice helped manage, and even prevent, obesity and diabetes in mice — a finding researchers are hoping will lead to similar results in humans.

Researchers at the University of Montreal said they’ve discovered that blueberry juice transformed by a bacteria found on the skin of the fruit halted the progression of the two conditions in mice.

Pierre Haddad, a pharmacology professor at the university, said the bacteria quadrupled the amount of antioxidants in the juice – boosting what is already thought to be helpful in protecting the body against certain harmful molecules.

The researchers found the juice reduced blood sugar levels in the rodents, which is critical to the onset of both conditions.

Source:http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jO0v4Mstn0_ASWyhXbxMvKC14TIA

See also:http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Blueberry+juice+fights+Canadian+study/1955061/story.html