If you have a garden, terrace, or window box, you can help bees by providing a food source for them across three seasons out of four, just by planting two or three of the flowers identified below for each season. That does not require a whole lot of land and can even be done in some planter boxes or wide outdoor vases.
Crocus and Snowdrops are early bloomers and some bees emerge from their winter retreats early, so those two flowers are wonderful for hungry bees. Think of the bumblebee queen, as she starts off all alone and in immediate need of food. Such early flowers can save her life.
SPRING
Crocus—Snowdrops—California Lilac—Pieris—Dicentra
SUMMER
Lavender—Foxgloves—Geraniums—Monkshood—Wild Strawberries
AUTUMN
Sunflowers—Honeysuckle—Verbena—Cosmos—Ground Ivy
This 26:20-minute video by Garden Answers is a bit longer than we usually post, but it has received over 1.1 million views in just one month so it must have some great information about flowers that feed bees.
If planting flowers isn't possible, see if you can buy some that are already in flowerpots. Or keep some kitchen herbs on your balcony or in a window box. Some herbs that bees love are sage, rosemary, chives and thyme. The added bonus is that you can eat these too.
The other two things bees really need from us are fresh water in a shallow place with some leaves, twigs, or stones in the bowl for them to stand on, and a chemical-free and pesticide-free garden.
Then enjoy lazy days in your garden chair, watching buzzing bees pollinating your flowers and plants.
A deep sense of satisfaction can be had from knowing that by beautifying your own garden you are helping local pollinators to survive.