Inviting the bees

As someone who’s allergic to bees I’m an unlikely proponent of inviting them to my landscape. But bees pay a vital role in the health of my plants, so I’ve long researched the best way to ensure my garden receives regular visits form these winged pollinators.

There’s hundreds of crops grown in North America that depend on bees including apples, almonds, blueberries, citrus, melons, pears, plums, pumpkins and squash. They are busy bees! With their little pollen laden legs transferring the dust from plant to another plant of the same species where it can fertilize it and begin the process of fruit and seed production. The result of good pollination is evident in the flavour and size of fruits and later, quality seeds for next year’s planting. Attract bees by adding some of the following flowers to your landscape:

Alyssum

Butterfly Weed

Asters

Coneflower

Bee Balm

Geraniums

Poppies

Black & Susans

Peonies

Zinnias

Larkspur

Queen Ann’s Lace

Columbine

Snapdragons

AND wildflowers!! Choose blue, purple and yellow: Bees find blue, purple and yellow flowers most delicious. Look for plants that are native to your region and add them in mass! Not only do they create a lovely aesthetic but a variety of plantings with different heights, flower sizes and bloom times are certain to create a buzz.

Go au naturel and provide nesting habitat by preserving a small brush pile or if you don’t have space for debris get yourself a bee house. You can even build one fairly easily http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Gardening-Tips/Build-a-Bee-House.aspx

Avoid using pesticides: Many pesticides, even organic ones are toxic to bees and other pollinators. To protect them, do not use pesticides on open blossoms or when bees or other pollinators are present and use them only as a last resort.