Bees have been the topic for writers and poets everywhere. Their collective community, unending work and energy serve as guidelines for us all.
- Life is the flower for which love is the honey. ~ Victor Hugo
- For so work the honey-bees, creatures that by a rule in nature teach the act of order to a peopled kingdom. ~ William Shakespeare
- Tart words make no friends; a spoonful or honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar. ~ Benjamin Franklin
They also are fascinating creatures, and the more I learn, the more I admire them. We depend on them for pollination, the source of three out of every four bites of food.
Yet bees and other pollinators face many dangers: loss of critical habitat, chemicals that poison their homes and food supply, and mites and other diseases that attack their health.
Here are four things that you can do to help bees and other pollinators:
- Protect bees from pesticides. Keep your lawn and garden pesticide-free. Explore organic solutions and control pests with homemade remedies and ladybugs.
- Provide a variety of food for bees. Clusters of plants with staggered blooming times provide pollen for bees through the year (at least 3 kinds of blooms all the time), particularly late summer and fall. Native plants are always best.
- Provide a year-round, clean source of water for bees. This could take many forms: A rainwater collection or irrigation system or a small garden water feature. Shallow water sources can provide enough water for bees, without creating opportunities for mosquitoes to breed.
- Provide shelter for bees. Attract wild bees to your backyard by leaving some dead trees or plants that they might nest in.
Source: Honey Bee Haven
Bee Lady Honey 