Rescued wet Bumblebees near my wrist. I gave them some local honey mixed with water, they sucked at it, revived, then they flew off. I used to keep bees so am used to handling them.

Well done Lindak. I saw a couple of days ago on the news that this extreme heat is wiping our bumblebees out as well.

Hi Thorneyside, The bees seem exhausted from the heat as well so they need to drink to keep going. A shallow dish with a few pebbles in is a good idea to help the insects out.

That's a wonderful thing for you to have done. I found a dead Bee on the patio, then another in a small water dish.

Thanks Shirley, I rescued a white butterfly from the conservatory today, it stayed on my hand for ages then I placed it on the Lavender. Later I went to see it and it climbed back on to my hand and then flew off. I think it needed warming up.

:o))

I have seen a few dead bees. So upsetting!

Sad isn't it Rose. I rescued a few more bees today after they got caught in the rain.

I've only seen a couple of dead bees but there are lots on the balcony - live ones that is! :)

The Lavender plants around here are full of bees! :)

Lovely to hear that the bees are doing well this year Balcony. I love the smell of the lavender flowers.

So do I! :) But I can't seem to keep them alive for long! :( I think I probably overwater them!

Sometimes the watering is to do with the pot not draining well Balcony. We always put some stones in the bottom of the pot before the compost. I have a french lavender in a large pot and when the flowers go off colour, I cut them off. It flowers for a long period over the summer.

You may be right, Lindak, but as I've killed off various over the years I don't think so. I grew some from seed when I had an allotment, some of the plants stayed on the balcony while others were planted out on the allotment. Needless to say, those on the balcony died but those on the allotment were still flowering years later!

Hi Balcony, the only other thing I can think about with your Lavenders is perhaps the lack of sunshine? They like the sun. It's mizzling here this morning, but we have been out for a walk in the River gardens, and seen the ducks and geese.