Marypause50 ~10 years later still a blog about gardens, simplicity, friendships, gratitude, health,

Planting For the Bees!

    Some good news, in October the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has given endangered species status to 7 kinds of yellow-faced bees in the Hawaiian islands. These are the first bees in the country to be protected under this Act. We are pleased the awareness is the there but this was in Hawaii! That's scares me. We urgently need to act in our own backyards & do what we can to encourage bee activity in our own gardens. Here are some suggestions. Also, visit this link for more info:
    To begin, plant at least three different types of flowers in your bee garden to ensure blooms through as many seasons as possible. This will provide bees and other pollinators with a constant source of food.  For example these perennials:
·         Crocus, hyacinth, borage, calendula, and wild lilac provide enticing spring blooms.
·         Bees feast on bee balm, cosmos, Echinacea, snapdragons foxglove, and hosta in the summer.
·         For fall, zinnias, sedum, asters, witch hazel and goldenrod are excellent late bloomers.

Other tips:  bees also prefer single flower topped flowers such as daisies and marigolds, rather than double flower tops such as double impatiens. Double headed flowers look showy but produce much less nectar and make it much more difficult for bees to access pollen. And skip the highly hybridized plant for the less nectar reason.
More Flower Choices:
Asters, Hyacinth, Roses, Sunflowers, Calliopsis, Anise Hyssop, Marigolds, Poppies, Snowdrops, Zinnias, Clover, Dahlias, Foxglove, Geraniums, Hollyhocks, Hyacinth, Heliotrope
  Fruits & Vegetable Choices:
   Blackberries, Cantaloupe, Cucumbers, Gourds, Peppers, Pumpkins,    
   Squash, Strawberries, Watermelons
  Herb Choices:
   Bee Balm, Borage, Catnip, Coriander/CilantroFennel, Lavender, Mints,  
   Rosemary, Sage, Thyme
  Bees also love fruit trees, especially Cherry trees!!

·         Make a bee bath. Bees have trouble using birdbaths, because they aren't able to land in deep water. They need an island to land on so they can walk to the edge and take a drink or a bath without drowning. To make a bee bath, take a wide, shallow dish or tray and line the edges with flat rocks. Pour water over the rocks and into the bottom of the tray. Place it in your garden near the flowers that attract the most bees. The bees will be able to land on the rocks and access the water.
·         Stop using pesticides of any kind. Bees are susceptible to pesticides and other chemicals sprayed and used in gardens. Aim to have a pesticide-free garden and use pest-ridding remedies that are natural and not reliant on chemicals. If you do spray plants, only do so after dusk, when pollinators are least active, avoid using chemicals known to harm bees.

 So, keep all these wonderful suggestions of plantings in mind when purchasing for yourself or for those Easter/ Mother's Day gifts this year! Also, when your friends & family ask for your sage advice on their gardens, keep these in mind as wonderful suggestions. Happy-To-Bee Gardening!