Everyone Can Save the Bees

Unless you have been living under a bridge, and if you have please share with me how it's going as I have often considered moving to that less domestic lifestyle, you know that bees are not only our life source, but that they are very much in danger.

Planting gardens full of a bee's favorites like hyssop, blue flax, goldenrod, and others are one way to ensure happy well-fed bees in your neighborhood, but we all know that plants can be expensive, and yard space can be sparse, and many of us are experiencing droughts in our parts of the world.

So here are five easy ways you can help your local bee population right now!

1. DON'T WEED:

If you do have a patch of lawn, chances are good your first sight of spring begins with fluffy yellow tufts dotting your lawn. These dandelions are the first food that bees look for when they leave the hive after a long winter.

Bees have an interesting way to survive winter that includes keeping each other warm in a big swarm and eating the small reserves of honey they have. Come spring they are nearly starving and need food immediately.

When they leave the hive in the early days of spring, those dandelions are a nutrition source for them that are essential. So, please don't weed. Let the yellow balls of sunshine go!

I recognize that there are some covenants and HOA's that might frown about it. Try to hold your ground and educate. Worst case scenario, pick the dandelions, but NEVER USE SPRAY. Which brings us to...

2. DON'T USE CHEMICALS:

Bees are wondrous creatures, but they are extremely susceptible to poisons and chemical sprays. Please don't use chemical fertilizers or other types of spray around your house and yard.

Insects can be a nuisance, but remember that all creatures are an important part of the ecosystem. Look up natural ways to keep the nuisance at bay if they are causing you distress.

Attract more birds to your yard to eat up the flies, or encourage ladybugs to visit to deplete ants.

Whatever you do, don't use pesticides or insecticides. Please, please, please, please. Thank you, love the bees.

3. MAKE WATER SAFELY AVAILABLE:

You know when you are at the swimming pool and there are bees just everywhere? That's because bees need water. A lot of water. They use it to drink, to make honey, they take it back to the hive on hot days to create little swamp cooler systems.

Consider popping some corks into your bird bath or kiddie pool so that they have somewhere to land and drink. Don't fear if they stop by while you are in the kiddie pool, they just want a quick drink and they will get out of your way!

4. LEAVE A NATURAL UNDISTURBED PATCH OF EARTH:

Not all bees live in hives. Not all bees make honey. Not all bees are black and yellow and fuzzy. Bees, like people, come in all shapes and sizes and have all sorts of living preferences. All of them are important pollinators.

Many species of bees live in the ground in holes that they dig into the dirt or old branches. They love to burrow under dry leaves and into dry dirt.

Leave a space of undisturbed earth in a corner of your yard. Or, if you don't have a yard, leave out some wood chunks with holes drilled into them. The bees will happily take up residence, especially if there is water and dandelions nearby.

5. EDUCATE OTHERS

Share with your neighbors why you leave the dandelions alone. Create signs for your yard (or you can find them on Etsy) letting others know that your weeds feed bees!

Ask your local Lawn and Garden store to only stock natural fertilizers and encourage others in your neighborhood to avoid pesticides.

If you see many bees at the local pool, know that they just need a safe space to drink and encourage others to stay calm. Scoop them out of the pool if you can.

Make Bee Habitats and give them to friends as gifts!

When you see a bee, say hello, don't run and scream and swat. They are peaceful creatures.

Share this article far and wide. We can ALL do our part.

Love, Amberlisa and the Bees