California Bumble Bee on a De La Mina Verbena blossom

Another first in our garden - a California Bumble Bee Bombus californicus !

I was doing my usual thing, walking around the garden with my camera, when I spotted the bee. It spent a long time visiting flower heads on the De La Mina verbena.

With the two yellow stripes it closely resembles the Yellow-Faced Bumble Bee.

BUT, unlike the Yellow-Faced Bumble Bee, it has black hairs on its face and on top of its head.

Each time I observe a species not seen before in our garden it is such a gratifying experience, just to know that by creating habitat and food sources for pollinators and other wildlife, anyone can make a difference.