It’s summer and, whew, it is hot in Central Texas! I braved the heat to do a short, mid-morning hike at the new River Ranch County Park.
Our summers are rough on people, plants, and wildlife but there are some tough native plants that can endure - and if you happen to be a pollinator, those plants can help you survive.
In the video below, an American Bumblebee demonstrated her technique for beating the competion for pollen during the summer dearth - by using buzz pollination on the flower of a Buffalo-bur.
Not every bee can buzz pollinate so it gives her a chance to beat out the competion for the minimal pollen sources that are availble. Watch the video below and if you want to learn more about buzz pollination, check out this four minute PBS Deep Look video.