Everyone has been talking about seeing big Bumblebees flying around lately (or accidentally digging one up from the ground or leaves!). I finally just saw one flying around a few minutes ago. It seemed to be finding a few of the flowers that are just barely opening right now in my yard. If you see a big fat Bumblebee in April, and for the next few weeks too, you can be rest assured that is a Queen Bumblebee. As Bumblebees do, their entire family died off in the fall, and this mated female (called a gyne) is responsible now for waking up from hibernation, getting pollen/nectar right away for strength, then looking for a place to make a nest and raise this year’s generation of Bumblebees. Quite a responsibility! The early pollen/nectar sources in April and May actually don’t come from too many small flowering plants, but rather native trees and shrubs, such as Red Maple, Black Cherry, American Basswood, Serviceberry, Redbud, Dogwoods, Pussy Willo...