Stephan: Every vegetable and fruit that you put on your table depends on bees. Without bees hundreds of millions of people would face starvation. This report lays out an important truth. Your garden, however big or small, can play an important role in supporting these little creatures.
Here are 15 plants that will do that, and I urge you to plant them in your yard and garden.
1. Lavandula spp. (Lavender)
2. Rosemarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
3. Salvia spp. (Sage)
4. Echinacea spp. (Coneflower)
5. Helianthus spp. (Sunflower)
6. Cercis spp. (Redbud)
7. Nepeta spp. (Catnip)
8. Penstemon spp. (Penstemon)
9. Stachys spp. (Lamb’s ears)
10. Verbena spp. (Verbena)
11. Phacelia spp. (Bells or Phacelia)
12. Aster spp. (Aster)
13. Rudbeckia spp. (Black-eyed Susan)
14. Origanum spp. (Oregano)
15. Achilliea millefolium (Yarrow)
Research shows that the size of a city garden has little relationship to the amount of nectar it can produce. Credit: Nick Upton/Alamy
Small gardens are as important as big gardens for conserving bees and other pollinators in UK cities, a study has found.
Worldwide, bee populations are declining. Habitat destruction, pesticide use, and climate change have led to the disappearance of some pollinators, but researchers found that small urban gardens are some of the most pollinator-friendly places.
“Most of the nectar produced in gardens is by a shrub in the corner or a border around the edge of the garden,” said Nicholas Tew, a PhD student at the University of Bristol. “There are some very flower-rich small gardens and some very flower-poor big gardens.”
I’ve seen bees drink out of my hummingbird feeders (clear not red nectar) the red dye isn’t good for them. Don’t forget flowers! Bees are particularly attracted to bee balm, echinacea, snap dragon, and hostas, as well as a number of other wildflowers like California poppies and evening primrose. Fun fact: Did you know that bees have excellent color vision? For this reason, they flock to yellow, purple, blue, and white flowers.
Butterflies need milkweed, and none of these creatures need PESTICIDES!
sam crespi
on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Thank you for this! I love close up ‘doable’ actions that can be taken.
Rev. Dean
on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 1:28 pm
I always have lots of bees in my organic garden, and love them as if they were pets. I make sure they thrive, just as I would any other member of my family.
I’ve seen bees drink out of my hummingbird feeders (clear not red nectar) the red dye isn’t good for them. Don’t forget flowers! Bees are particularly attracted to bee balm, echinacea, snap dragon, and hostas, as well as a number of other wildflowers like California poppies and evening primrose. Fun fact: Did you know that bees have excellent color vision? For this reason, they flock to yellow, purple, blue, and white flowers.
Butterflies need milkweed, and none of these creatures need PESTICIDES!
Thank you for this! I love close up ‘doable’ actions that can be taken.
I always have lots of bees in my organic garden, and love them as if they were pets. I make sure they thrive, just as I would any other member of my family.