How to save the bees?

1. Why save the bees?

We all like to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. But without the pollination made by the foraging of bees, we will one day have to do without it if we do nothing now!

It is the same for the beauty of the flowered landscapes which risk disappearing, because the flowers need pollination to reproduce.

By taking care of the environment of these little working bees, we ensure the future of agricultural crops.

Several tricks are available to those who want to save the bees. Here are two that are a great start to helping and saving them:

• Protecting bee habitat: Lack of habitat due to urban sprawl is one of the greatest threats to bees. If you notice a lack of green space in your neighborhood, you can volunteer to plant a bee garden or create a habitat corridor with nectar-rich plants such as wildflowers. Gardens can be set up in small spaces such as balconies or street corners, and flowers can be planted along roads and other public spaces. You can also engage with your local government to set reasonable limits on development where you live.
• Avoid the use of harmful pesticides: Synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides are harmful to bees. Using these pesticides in your garden can not only scare bees away, but also put their lives at risk. If you must treat your garden, opt for organic pesticides and spray in the evening when pollinators are less active. Avoid chemicals belonging to the neonicotinoid family at all costs, as they are particularly harmful to bees.

3. Flowers to attract bees

Do you want to help protect bees? Start by planting a flower garden! Whether in the ground or in pots and planters, you will be able to attract bees to your home.

The flowers help feed bees and other important pollinators.

Not only will you be helping save the bees by planting bee-friendly plants, but you will also be helping your garden. Here are some tips for a bee-friendly garden:

• Avoid hybrid flowers, which can be sterile and have little or no nectar or pollen
• Avoid double flowers, which lack pollen
• Group different flower varieties together – bees like to focus on one type of flower at a time
• Leave a patch of land undisturbed for ground-nesting bees

4. Which flowers to plant in the garden to attract bees?

Here are some varieties of flowers known to attract bees:

• The Nepeta
• The Verbena Bonariensis
• The Asters
• The Agastache
• Lavender
• Dandelion
• The Clover

5. Plant trees to save the bees

Bees aren’t just interested in perennials! Did you know that bees get most of their nectar from trees? When a tree flowers, it provides bees with hundreds or even thousands of flowers to feed on.

Trees are not only an excellent source of food for bees, but they are also essential to their habitat. Tree leaves and resin provide nesting material for bees, while their natural wooden cavities provide excellent shelter.

6. Trees that feed the bees

Here are some varieties of trees that attract and feed bees:

• Linden
• Cherry and most fruit trees
• Ivy and other climbers
• Robinia

It is not necessary to have a large piece of land in the suburbs or in the countryside to help the bees. You can just as well do it in town, in your small courtyard, on your balcony or on the edge of a window!

• Plant flowers and vegetables in pots or planters.
• Offer water to the bees in small plates or saucers in which you have placed a few pebbles so that they can land and rest.
• Contact your city to ask for more trees and flowers to be planted there and for the use of harmful pesticides to be reduced.
• Put your neighbors to work to create green spaces, in the alley for example.

8. How about making a beehive for the bees?

A great way to save bees is to provide them with a place to live! You can directly impact the health of your local ecosystem by creating a bee hive.

Having your own hive can help you learn more about bee biology, its ecosystems and improve the environment around you. Plus, you’ll get the added benefits of bee products like raw honey and beeswax.

Interested in adventure? It is very easy to find plans on the internet, whether for a traditional straw hive or a more modern one with wooden boards. It will be important to respect the plans and the list of materials suggested in order to provide a healthy and durable hive for your bees.

Imagine how many bees you could save if everyone in your neighborhood took part in such an initiative?