What a Sticky Mess

Apparently pollen from Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is particularly sticky. This poor bee is covered in it and had some trouble flying because of it.

It kept trying to wipe the pollen off its back and eyes. I hope its hive mates were able to get it all off.

I had seen bees elsewhere in the yard with some of this pollen on them and I was wondering where it came from. I'd heard that bees only go to one type of flower per trip from the hive, but this bee looks like its been to the Rose of Sharon before coming to this rudbeckia. The pollen in its pollen baskets on its legs is a much deeper orange color than the white pollen of the rose of sharon stuck on its face.

And this bee on the mint has Rose of Sharon pollen on it as well.