Bees and Other Friends
Honeybees are disappearing. While scientists try to unravel the mystery of why honeybees are vanishing, there are things we can do to insure that our gardens will have plenty of pollinators.
More than honeybees
In America, honeybees are not our only source of pollination. Native bees, flies, wasps, beetles, moths, bats, butterflies and hummingbirds also pollinate our crops. There are thousands of species of native bees (also called solitary bees or pollen bees). Some have delightful names like bumble bee, horn-faced bee, polyester bee, sweat bee, orchard mason bee and shaggy fuzzyfoot bee.
Planting to Attract
We can plant gardens to attract many types of pollinators. The best way to accomplish this is to plant a wide variety of trees, shrubs, vines, perennials and annuals with different sized, shaped and colored blossoms. Try to have flowers in your garden for as long a season as possible. Shrubs like pussy willows, daphne, witch hazel and quince blossom when little else is available and provide much-needed nectar.
We can use edible plants too. Fruit trees like apples, pears, plums, and cherries are good choices. Fruiting plants such as blackberries, juneberries, blueberries and strawberries also attract various pollinators. It's another reason to grow those delectable fruits.
Let some of your veggies go to seed. The blossoms lure both pollinators and a host of beneficial insects that protect your plants. As a plus, you get seeds to plant for another year. Lettuce, mustards, chicories and carrots are especially good.
Herbs make wonderful insectary plants. Try:
- lavender
- coriander (cilantro)
- dill
- parsley
- borage
- sage
- parsley
- basil
- lemon balm
- wild bergamot
- yarrow
- mint.
Mints spread so abundantly around the garden that it's best to plant them in containers to restrain them.
Most of us already have some good insect-attracting blossoms growing in our lawns: dandelions. We can also plant butterfly gardens and hummingbird gardens, preferably near our vegetable patch.
Beyond Blossoms
Pollinators need more than blossoms. They need water for drinking and bathing. Even puddles will do. Some species use mud to build their nests. Many pollinators like rough natural areas of tall plants, shrubs and hedge to build their nests.
Orchard mason bees build their nests in wood. You can create nesting areas for them from scrap lumber or an old log. Just drill holes in the wood, a 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch in diameter and six inches deep. Hang the wood in a shady, protected place. Another way to build a nest for orchard mason bees is to fill an old coffee can with paper tubes, paper (not plastic) drinking straws or hollow stems (such as bamboo, goldenrod, sumac or elderberry).
Restricting or eliminating the use of pesticides helps to build up the population of pollinators. Even some natural pesticides kill beneficial pollinators.
When we work with nature, we receive multiple benefits. By providing food and habitat for pollinators, we also provide food, seeds and flowers for ourselves, attract other beneficial insects and beautify our landscape.