Not as far as I know Rosie but there always seems to be plenty to go round.

They do until the flower is pollinated and the seed producing process begins. Once that happens flowers stop attracting insects, in various ways from closing up, to changing colour to no longer being attractive by not feeding the bees.

I know what you mean, Snoopdog, but I'm not as brave as you!

So that's where they all went Rosie!. Bees seem to love visiting tiny florets like Bonariensis and Buddeja and Veronicastrum which seems a favourite in our garden. This may be because there are florets blooming and opening for business continuously rather than one large flower at a time, like fuchsia or a day lily, where one large flower is only open for a bee opportunity for a few hours ( that said they usually are pollinated). Different strategies for each plant to get insects to visit them. Probably lots we don't yet know about this process.

Thank you so much ,everyone. I am particularly fond of bumble bees, and I know what you mean about stroking them. I push past them every time I get out of the car, and they never bother me. It just makes the lavender smell more. Best wishes to all other " bee" people !

If you want to feed Bees of all descriptions at this time of year and on until mid Autumn try planting a Lonicera alseuosmoides. Awful name, but they adore it. I counted over 500 bees of various kinds on it this morning. Mind ours is a big plant.

Thank you, Owdboggy, I have made a note of that.