If you want to help stop the decline in bees

[LONDONER]

Here's a useful link about flowers that will attract bees and more. At least in certain climates:

http://honeylove.org/top-30-flowers-for-bees/

[Camfer]

Well a few more vital pieces of information on how to make that flower list really useful to bees.

First, determine if you are aiming for native bees or honey bees. Both could use some help. They have very different foraging habits. Hone your observational skills so you know what bees are in your area at what time of year, and what flowers they visit.

A shallow pan of water with a rough rock in it will give all bees a place to drink without drowning. For any species, it's the combination of food, water, and shelter that helps a lot. Pollen and nectar from flowers is just one aspect.

If you want to help native bees, a variety of flowers over the longest period of time will help them forage. Shelter is important too. Some are solitary ground nesters, some use small diameter holes in trees. Have unpaved, undisturbed areas on your property that ground nesting bees can use. Consider having an old log or tall dead tree stumps with a variety of different sized holes drilled into it.

If you want to feed honey bees, a concentration of flowers over the longest period of time will help them forage. Rather than have 20 different types of flowers that all bloom in the same time period, choose 1 - 2 flowers and plant a lot of them. Honey bees like to gather pollen from one species at a time. Early spring flowers is probably the most crucial time, as honey reserves are at their lowest and not a lot of flowers are blooming yet.

Modern hybrid flowers are bred to produce little to no pollen. You will do more by planting older varieties that produce a lot of pollen.

Coordinating with your neighbors will create a larger zone that is more useful. Honey bees will easily forage 2 miles / 3 km from the hive.

Planting lots of flowers but then using pesticides is poisoning the very species you are trying to help. The combination of food, shelter, water, and pesticide free areas will maximize your positive impact.

[LONDONER]

Thanks for the useful information Camfer, it all helps.

[LJay]

Kewl posts, guys!

[ceez]

definitely no shortage of bees here. they're freakin everywhere.

[LONDONER]

definitely no shortage of bees here. they're freakin everywhere.

Well lucky you! Many people don't realise that if bees died out it could possibly mean that mankind might follow the same route. No bees = no pollination, no pollination = no food.................etc.

[Rareboy]

We allow them to keep haives inside the walls of our house. We have had up to 50,000 bees living in the floor space in one hive.

Currently I think we have two hives with about 20.000 bees in each.

[LONDONER]

We allow them to keep hives inside the walls of our house. We have had up to 50,000 bees living in the floor space in one hive.

Currently I think we have two hives with about 20.000 bees in each.

That's very tolerant of you. How did you count them?