Bees and Auriculas

Bees

I am so glad I have some bees in my garden, perhaps not that many, but some at least. I don't know much about different kinds of bees but saw some interesting ones today, must find out more about them.  This bee on the green alkanet looked quite red but it was rather difficult to get a closer shot than this.

A black bee on honesty, which has turned out to be a real bee magnet. I don't recall ever seeing a black bee before.

there seem to be some white bits

A different kind of bee on green alkanet. I always notice things on my pc while looking at my photos which I didn't notice in the garden, what is that insect at the top? what is that plant top right in the background? I don't even recognise it. I think it's the same bee in the next three pics.

another shot of that bee, not the greatest but hopefully enough for identification

I saw another bee with huge pollen baskets but could not get a shot in focus.

Auriculas

Some of my auriculas are in bloom so it's time (past time) to think about their display but the auricula theatre idea is not going to plan. This one which I bought recently (this winter/spring?) is the perfect size. I love the colour. They don't have many for sale at my local garden centre but they had a few of these.

the auriculas which are blooming but they are too big for the classic size as the one above for a theatre-type display

the one on the left below, I dislike the colour, the ones on the right have no buds, hopefully the one in the middle will be an acceptable colour but it's also too big

all my auriculas, divide some I guess, feed the non-blooming ones? Auriculas can be a lot of work!

The globe thistles will take over if I left them. I moved them all out of this flowerbed but I see there are a few more. I find it difficult to move plants but I need to make the effort.

I've moved the globe thistles, leaving my beloved centaurea montana. I see a few self-seeded fox and cubs which I originally bought as small plants in the "wildflower" section but they didn't have a chance because they were shaded over by other plants. I'd also banished the green alkanet - just from this small area - and they are encroaching as well. After they flower I'll deal with those.

fox and cubs seedlings

the fox and cubs had self-seeded in a pot and produced runners which I only noticed recently when I've been trying to tidy up the pots on the patio

I've potted them up and I'll see how they do. Which will bloom first, these or the ones in the flowerbed?

this is why it's so difficult to see everything but I am trying to sort them out

I found the hyssop in there, stripped by slugs, but it's coming back now. It has some leaves. I grew these last year from seeds I bought in Seoul.