<They are not only beautiful and edible, but a Godsend for the bees. Early late and middle honey flows every time it rains. My guess is they have saved more bee lives than any other flower.>
I honestly wish that I could entirely agree with this statement. I believe that in many areas this statement is 100% true and don't doubt it one little tiny bit. But for my area it is entirely false.
We have several species of dandelions that grow throughout the summer. And trust me, I look and look and look, trying to see if they hold any interest whatsover for the honeybees. I have never seen a bee on any that I have observed. Never. Not to say that they aren't foraging on the flowers when I am not loooking.
But "I spend most of my time in the gardens and only sleep in the house". I know that because someone (remember, my husband's name is "someone", gave me a plaque that said so :roll: ;) :) :) He is the "someone" that always gets blamed for doing something or other that annoys me :) :) :)
If I were to want to plant a plant that is great for the bees, that self-seeds like a demon from the very depths of that dark place, I would plant these annuals:
Borage
Phacelia Tanacetifolia
They are beautiful, spread like nothing on this earth and are covered from dawn to dusk with all types of beneficials, particularly the honeybees. They bloom all summer, the bloom is continued when the mother plants fail because of the seeds that have dropped, germinated and are blooming again in about 6 weeks time. They begin to grow and set flowers early in the year as well.
Those would be my choice for masses of acres of planting. Have a wonderful and beautiful day. Cindi