Bees
When I say that word, some of you get the image of the sweet little creatures gently buzzing around the flowers and taking the pollen back to make that wonderful honey. Others are struck with utter terror.
But what about bees in your garden? Are they important or not? Can we do without them? Aren’t there other insects that do the same job? I’ve had an interesting gardening season, which has answered that question for me, and I’ll share what I have learned.
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Attracting Bees In Your Garden.
What Does A Bee Do
First and foremost, a Bee’s purpose in life is to make baby bees. Then they have to go out and get nectar, which they use to make into honey to feed those baby bees.
They get that nectar by visiting flowers, landing on them, sticking their proboscis down into the flower, sucking in the single drop that is in most flowers, and moving on to the next flower, where they will do the same thing.
This wildflower blend is packed with nectar-rich blooms that attract honeybees, bumblebees, and native bees all season long. A great choice for new gardeners—just scatter, water, and enjoy a buzzing garden.
They do this over and over until they are full, then they take the nectar back to the hive and deposit it. Then they do it all again. When they are collecting the nectar, they get that messy old pollen all over their legs and carry it to the next flower they visit. This deposits the pollen onto the next flower. The pollen getting deposited on the next flower’s stigma is like impregnating it. If it doesn’t get that pollen carried to it, that flower will not produce a fruit.
That’s how having bees in your garden is to your advantage. You want more fruit, and the bees will help you get it.
This wildflower blend is packed with nectar-rich blooms that attract honeybees, bumblebees, and native bees all season long. A great choice for new gardeners—just scatter, water, and enjoy a buzzing garden.
Bee & Pollinator Wildflower Mix
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Related>> How To Prevent Bee Stings While Raising Bees.
Are Bees The Only Way A Flower Can Get Pollinated?
Bees are not the only way a flower can get pollinated. Other insects pollinate too. And the wind and gravity will spread some pollen. But the bees are the best pollinators, and without bees, most plants that have fruit will not produce as well.
Take the strawberry, for example. They are primarily pollinated by wind and gravity. However, Cornell University found that if you have bees in the vicinity, the strawberries will be 40% bigger. That is quite a difference!
Why is this? Because even when there is not much wind, the bees will land on the flowers and make the flower drop their pollen. This works on tomatoes and corn, also.
Related>> What Is Hand Pollination?
Why Am I Interested In Bees?
This year, the rancher down the road moved his bees out of the area. I had no idea what a difference it would make. The lettuce and the Swiss chard grew wonderfully because they don’t need pollination to grow leaves. But the tomatoes and peppers did not do nearly as well this year as in years past.
Then, when the Barbados cherries blossomed, they were covered with blooms, but hardly a bee showed up. And I have gotten very few fruits. The same is true with my muscadine grape. This is just not acceptable.
Why go through all that work? All the planning and building the soil, starting the seeds, weeding and watering, and not getting any (or at least not much) fruit!
A selection of herbs like basil, borage, chives, oregano, and thyme. These plants attract bees while giving you fresh, usable herbs for cooking.
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Attracting Bees In Your Garden.
There are other ways to attract bees to your garden, too. You can have a small bee garden and plant flowers that attract bees. This will bring in bees from your neighborhood. They typically will fly up to three miles from their hive. Having a bee-friendly water source will help bring them in, too.
Provides fresh water in a safe, shallow dish for bees. Helps pollinators stay hydrated without risk of drowning.
Make Bees Want To Stay In Your Garden. Provides fresh water in a safe, shallow dish for bees. Helps pollinators stay hydrated without risk of drowning.
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Bee Friendly Gardening.
Not using poisons in your garden will make your garden more bee-friendly as well. You don’t want to kill off the pollinators you have just attracted to your garden.
How I’m Going To Get Bees In My Garden
The idea of giving up on my garden is not an option. I’m afraid it’s in my blood. But it is so important to have bees in your garden.
So I sought out a beginner beekeeping class to learn how to raise my own bees. I started by calling my local extension agency, and there was a class starting the next week.
Related>> Plant Flowers That Attract Bees.
Do you want to keep bees too?
If you want to keep bees in your garden too, contact your county’s cooperative extension service office. If they do not have a class in your area, they should be able to put you in touch with a local bee association that can tell you where to find one. There are books you can read, too, but I recommend getting a mentor for your first hive.
Whether you keep your own hive or just attract the ones in your neighborhood. You need to have bees in your garden for the best production of your fruits and vegetables.
Related>> Pick The Perfect Place for A Backyard Beehive.
Related>> 10 Things To Know Before You Start Beekeeping.
Happy Backyard Homesteading!
I believe everyone can grow at least part of their own food! Let me show you how.
Thanks for the info! I’ve been debating having bees (and ducks) …
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my class. They are such interesting creatures. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 Did you see https://www.lifeisjustducky.com/start-beekeeping/ . There some things to consider before you decide to get them. Check it out.
Shudder…
Bees are such wonderful creature…once you get to know them. We would be in a world of hurt without them. 🙂