The big pussy willow that's been in full flower for days has had few insect visitors I've noticed. Today I was admiring a much smaller native willow when a very pretty bee landed on a male prairie willow catkin and got straight to work. (I've planted three of these to provide for bees in spring.) So busy and distracted was she that I got endless photos -- sorting through them all to find good ones was time-consuming. INaturalist's top pick was "cellophane bees," which was enough for me to guess at the species.
I had wondered what many unequal cellophane bees nesting in my yard were doing for food. Now the mystery is why I've only seen one!
Unequal Cellophane Bee
Prairie willow (Salix humilis) is native shrub not often seen.
The buds of my blueberries are swelling and will soon flower.
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