My friend Susan sent me this wonderful image of a bee collecting pollen from a borage flower in her garden. A very special garden indeed as she owns The Yorkshire Dales Flower Company, personally growing flowers for bridal bouquets and floral displays for any occasion.
Inspiration indeed to take a closer look at this very beneficial plant borage (Borago Officinalis) offering beauty benefits to us and vital forage to bees.
The beautiful sky blue flowers of borage have been grown in the British Isles for many centuries, although it is an introduced species. Often it can be found on waste ground as it self seeds each year, once established in a garden will produce wonderful forage for bees and other pollinators. The flowers are also edible and can be used in salads and as drink garnishes, borage has also been grown as a field crop seed oil sold as starflower oil.
Borage and Bees
Honeybees, long and short tongued bumblebees and solitary bees benefit from borage. Honeybees work mainly for nectar, bumblebees for nectar and pollen the nectar is white bluish grey or almost white. Some types of bumblebee buzz the anthers containing the pollen which caused a pollen cloud, which can be collected and groomed off the bees. Borage honey is very pale and runny with a mild flavour. Beekeepers like to see bees foraging amongst the borage flowers, as it keeps them busy all day long, and a chance to see the honey bee hard at work.
Borage and Beauty
I use Borage Oil as a carrier oil for blending my essential oils.
Extracted from dark brown seeds, borage seed yields the highest level
of the fatty acid gamma linolenic acid than any other oil (GLA). It is also produced for its medicinal properties and sold as starflower oil usually in capsule form. Borage oil is ideal for re-establishing and maintaining normal skin balance. I use especially if my client has very dry skin which need regulation, and is very beneficial in treating eczema and psoriasis. With hydrating, nourishing and soothing properties.
