Sam Droege, is a biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, in Maryland. He’s an expert on both birds and pollinator species, though he doesn’t fit the mold of a government scientist. His spectacular macro portraits of bees, shot using a camera rig he devised by modifying one used by the U.S. Army, have several hundred thousand online admirers, yet he doesn’t consider himself a photographer. Relentlessly creative, he has produced a spate of grassroots programs with names like Bioblitz, Frogwatch USA, and Cricket Crawl that enlist volunteers to inventory local flora and fauna. Droege is the Johnny Appleseed of citizen science.
Droege has recently posted on Facebook a series of Native Bee Plant lists for specific habitats.
AGGRESVIVE Native Bee Plants for Old Pastures, Fields, Disturbed.
This is a list of plants that with basically no care or only annual mowings can at least somewhat compete within an old field situation. Potentially suitable for introduction into existing established weedy lots and roadsides. Again, must support pollinators in good numbers and also be native in the surrounding states.
Silphium perfoliatum
Field Thistle Cirsium discolor
Common Milkweed
Heliopsis helianthoides
Ashy Sunflower Helianthus mollis
Jerusalem Artichoke Helianthus tuberosus
Frost Asters
Canada Goldenrod Solidago canadensis
Black Raspberry Rubus occidentalis
Tall/New York Ironweed
Coastal Joe Pye Weed
Silky Dogwood
Winged Sumac
Wild Plum
Blackberry (perhaps even too aggressive)
Dogbane Apocynum cannabinum