When queen bumblebees emerge from hibernation they need sustenance. That can be a problem if the days get warmer before much is in flower and they must seek out what nectar and pollen is available.

 Yesterday the sky was blue, the sun was shining, the air was mild and fresh. Accordingly I went for walk and stopped for a pint at a village pub. I sat in the garden near a border with several large Hellebores and they were buzzing with big bumblers. These are our native Helleborus foetidus which flower early in the year.