Bees Love This Late Bloomer

The swamp sunflower that graces the entrance to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, University of California, Davis, does quadruple duty.

It's stunningly beautiful. It's strong and sturdy. It's a late bloomer. And the honey bees love it. 

This perennial sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) can reach 5 to 10 feet tall. It likes its soil moist, which is why it's often planted around water gardens. 

You can almost feel the warmth of the sun backlighting the blossoms, as the nearby honey bees forage.

One drawback: it's as vigorous as bamboo and can take over a yard. But oh, how swamp sunflower can color a flower bed. 

Until the first frost.