This weeks photo challenge is Envelope. I hadn’t planned to take part and then under the shade of a Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’ at Wisley today, I watched several species of Bumblebee dip in and out of the Laburnam racemes, enveloped by the mostly yellow flowers. As this Laburnam is a horticultural curiosity, there are pink flowers too.
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’
Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’ is a graft-hybrid between Laburnham and Purple Broom. The tree at Wisley caught my eye as from a distance I thought a clematis was running through it and then up close could see the pink flowers were a part of the tree too.
Enveloped by Laburnam racemes Bumblebee heavily laden with pollen
There was much to see at Wisley in the sunshine today, hopefully the rain due at Chelsea this coming week will be kinder than forecast.
Gardening Jules 
Amazing, I’ve never seen a two-toned laburnum 🙂
I had not either Matt, apparently the Adams Laburnam was first grafted in Paris, France in 1825 by J.L. Adam. Because of its inability to reproduce on its own, it is only found in gardens and collections. Not sure I would like one myself, but it was quite pretty.
Such a great picture of the bumblebee Julie. Great capture. The Laburnam is a real oddity.
There were lots of Bees on the Yellow flowers, they certainly liked it. 🙂
Goodness! I barely got used to the outstanding sight of the yellow laburnum, but now pink ones too? I’ve never seen that. Must be stunning, Julie.
It was certainly very intriguing, I ate my lunch sitting underneath just watching the Bees enjoy it too.
Stunning photos.
Thanks Dee, Wisley has so many lovely plants to photograph. The sunshine helped too!
Love the sunshine, definitely!
Lovely bee, but I’m not so sure about the two-tone laburnum.
No it would not be for me either. According to the RHS blurb there can be yellow laburnum flowers purple broom flowers and the mixed pink ones in my photo all on the one tree!
That is one industrious bumble bee! Great interpretation. I would never have imagined Laburnum and broom being close enough to be grafted. I suppose if you are in to that sort of thing you must try and see how far you can go and also wish for good luck. Amelia
Apparently the rootstock is a common Laburnum and a dwarf purple broom is grafted to the parent. I’d love to know how long and how many experiments Mr J.L. Adam made before producing this tree.
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Beautiful photos. I’m not familiar with the plant, though it’s gorgeous, but the bees certainly are familiar and seemingly, very happy with it!
There were lots of bees on the mostly yellow flowers, the fewer pink ones are apparently infertile. Its amazing how Bees can fly so laden down with pollen.
Your photos are truly amazing! 😀
Thanks very much! 🙂
A pink Laburnum? That made me smile! I saw a lemony yellow one next to a deep yellow one in someone’s front garden today and thought at the time that I didn’t realize there are different ones! You live and learn… 🙂
A lemony yellow one sounds really lovely, I should like that, the pink not so much! 🙂
I do love watching bumblebees, so relaxing.
Me too Jason, its utterly absorbing. 🙂
That first photo is stunning…I can see why the bumbles are flocking there….
Thanks Donna, hope you have a great week. 🙂
Bees do love laburnum and I like watching them open the flowers. Our laburnum isn’t looking as good as usual this year but the bees’ humming as I stand beneath is still loud. Your photos are always so good, Julie. That bee’s pollen sacs look as though they’ll burst any minute!
Trying to photograph Bees pushing through the flowers was a tricky business, I could not get my camera to focus fast enough! I love the positive uplifting sound of Bees, its such a happy noise.
I can only agree with you!
beautiful:-) spring is here + we are getting rain which is so needed here in USA:-)
Robbie, I am not sure where your garden is in zone 5, but glad you are have rain. I have been reading a blog in Texas where they have floods.
Boy do they have floods down there! Really scary for those people:-( I am in the center of USA, Northwest area of Illinois-Quad Cities. We are enjoying gentle rains which means not having to water each day. Today woke up and my garden is watered with a gentle rain:-)
Lovely photos. I have seen this Laburnum and although it is interesting I don’ t want to grow it myself.
I felt just the same, glad I’ve seen it but not wanting to take it home!