I was inspecting the Birdbath Garden the other day when a persistent buzzing sound became noticeable. I looked around a little closer and found this little bee happily buzzing among the stalks of the salvia. No wonder I like these plants! They are magnets for these happy little pollinators. This bee buzzed from stalk to stalk sampling all it had to offer, which looks to be considerable for such a tiny little creature. Unfortunately the population of these little bees is in jeopardy. A little understood condition called Colony Collapse Disorder seems to be affecting many of our nations honey bees. The colony flies away never to be seen again. Scientists think a variety of factors may be causing CCD.
According to the Natural Resource Defense Council the bees are getting sick due to pesticides, lack of an adequate food supply and a virus that is attacking their immune system.
Although more research is needed there are a few things you can do to help them out. Plant native plants that produce pollen that the bees will love.
Diversify your garden with different flower types and pay attention to shape, color, and flowering times. Bees like a variety of shapes and colors. Planting with sequential flowers makes sense for your garden anyway but it provides the side benefit of giving the bees a constant supply of food.
Avoid pesticides! The NRDC site recommends that if you absolutely have to spray to do it at night when you won’t harm the bees during their resting period.
I don’t think I’m allowed to do this last one in our garden but you could build a hive in your yard!
Oh, how lucky you are to have so many busy bees in your garden. Your suggestions are spot on!
Yeh, a bee hive–make your own honey. Great. Winter time feed them sugar water. That’s what we did. Then you could have your own Nectar of the Gods. Sounds like a terrific idea.
The birds-with the bees of course. I have often thought of a hive, but I think TOO much work for me right now.
The bees show up for the Lavander each spring! I am careful when working in that area so as to not disturb them…
There will be no bee hives in our yard!!
Good on you for doing your part to help the bees and welcome them into your garden!
I love the little guys and welcome them with open arms….have even thought of beekeeping but I haven’t the energy for another pet!
Gail
I’ve focused on putting in more bee and butterfly friendly plants this year. I really wanted salvia, but haven’t been able to find it so far. I wonder if I went shopping too late this year.
The bee issue is very worrisome – in fact I haven’t seen any this year. I’ve noticed they loved the butterfly/hummingbird flower seed mixture I planted last year, and am trying it again. Just wrote a post on helping the bees at my blog, you can read it if you’d like:
http://squarefootgardenblog.com/2008/05/save-the-bees-what-you-can-do/
Dave, you did a great job on photographing those bees. I’ve tried to take similar photos on a number of occasions and not only is it difficult, you have to have lots of patience.
As for your comments, right on, keep on planting those wonderful pollen producing plants 🙂
They love my Chaste Tree so I’ll put in lots of those! Great blog.
Dave, thanks for posting on this. The bee situation is important for gardeners to understand! I avoid pesticides (and cede some of my leaves/flowers to insects) and try to spot-prune my flowering plants so the bees have a steady supply of blooms all summer. I have noticed fewer and fewer bees every year, though, and I may have to help pollinate some of my veggies this year . . .