This week we'll look at ways to help bees not just survive but thrive.
This short video (5:43 minutes) from the UK gives us all some great ideas about how to encourage pollinating bees to make themselves at home in your garden.
Bees pollinate most of our vegetables and fruits, so isn’t it clever to take good care of them in order to take good care of ourselves? It is best, of course, when we have a true love for these amazing little creatures who live such exemplary lives, but even if you can’t get all “warm and fuzzy” about bees, then you should think about looking out for them from a self-preservation point of view. These busy little bees pollinate many of your favorite natural foods.
If you have room in your garden, plant trees that bees love. Here are just a few, but there are many more: chestnut, lime, cherry, apple and hornbeam.
Plant all sorts of flowers to provide pollen and nectar for foragers. Heirloom organic seeds are best for bees because they are natural and pure.
Don’t use pesticides on your flowers. If you buy ready-to-plant flowers, ask your nursery expert to confirm that they were not sprayed with pesticides.
The UK organization Friends of the Earth predicts 1 of 10 wild bee species face extinction across Europe. Wild bees are some of our greatest garden pollinators. They love the sweet nectar and diverse tastes of wildflowers and clover, so the more of these you can plant in your garden, the better chance you have of luring them. These sweet natural plants ensure wild bees will visit and may decide to call your garden home.
Are there trees in your area that bees love to visit? Share your insights over on our Facebook page!