I am slightly curious why there are so few bees. When flowering in early March, a large ‘Dorothy Wycoff’ Japanese andromeda (Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wycoff’) by the corner of the garage attracts a multitude of bees that are often quite aggressive in early spring. I usually take an alternate route to the rear garden so I don’t stir them up, but now, even on a sunny, seventy degree day there are only handfuls (below). I presume there will be more next weekend.

‘Dorothy Wycoff’ (below) is by far the largest of the Japanese andromedas in the garden, and the closest to a path where bees must be considered. It’s at least eight feet tall, and annually side branching must be pruned to permit unencumbered passage along the bluestone walk.

Other andromedas are not so tall growing, and while ‘Dorothy’ is most tolerant of clay soils, others must be perfectly located or the stresses of poor drainage quickly become evident. Forget about planting in even a slightly damp spot. I’ve lost several over the years, but with a dry location and light shade, or by choosing the more tolerant varieties such as ‘Cavatine’ and ‘Scarlet O’Hara’, this is a sturdy evergreen shrub with bunches of pendulous spring blooms and varying shades of red new growth after flowering. (Also in the garden are the variegated ‘Flaming Silver’ and ‘Little Heath’, and ‘Prelude’, ‘Brouwer’s Beauty’, and ‘Katsura’. And at least one that is unidentified.)