So I've come to the conclusion that there just isn't one plant we can all plant together. Not only do we have different climates and surroundings to consider, there is also style and color. However, there is one thing that can bring our gardens together...bees! Did you know that we can help the bee population by planting flowers that they enjoy? Bees are disappearing and we can encourage them to thrive and continue pollinating many of our food sources by simply planting a few things that they love. Bees pollinate ONE THIRD of the world's food resources (check out this great website for more info - yay Haagen-Dazs!) and so planting a few flowers for them is surely a great way to celebrate Earth Day. Here are my top three choices for bee attracting perennials...plant one today or sometime this week! Take a picture and post it on your blog and then leave a comment here. For everyone that participates (with these or other bee plants), I will send a packet of Sunflower seeds for you to plant in your garden this year...another fun plant that bees love!Nikki's top bee-friendly plants:
1. Rudbeckia hirta - Indian Summer. A beautiful yellow with black center that looks like a daisy
2. Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower. A pinkish-purple flower, also looks like a daisy
3. Herbs! Lavender, rosemary, and thyme
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Yay! I already have lavender and thyme. I don't really like bees in my yard though because of my little kids running around in the summer. I was stung last summer in the toe and my son was stung on his back. How intersting that they pollinate 1/3 of the world's food resources.
ReplyDeleteOh, so sorry to hear that you got stung. It is tough with little kids, I agree. We have a strict hands off the bees policy at our house after my son tried to catch one with his hands when he was two :) Yay that you have lavender and thyme! Two of my favorite herbs.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess it's time to REALLY plant my lavender and rosemary! :) The patch has been officially cleared for me. Welcome the bees!
ReplyDeletemy bees L.O.V.E. our lavender. It is so fun to watch them work...! We also have this one VERY LARGE, VERY YELLOW bumble-bee type thing that is loving our lavender, too - he's around every day. I'm going to research him and see, I've never seen him before. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?
ReplyDeleteI just came across your blog -- can't wait to read more... I wish I could get things to grow! I'm going to try though :)
ReplyDeleteHey Tracy - there are some giant bees out there that are big and round called Drone Carpenter Bees, but they are generally black. I have had them in my yard, so they are in our area. As for big and yellow, I'm really not sure. I guess it is possible that you just have a really big bumble bee. Check out http://www.pollinator.com/identify/whatsbuzzin.htm for some other bee possibilities.
ReplyDeleteHi Perfectly Pleasant! Thanks for visitng - welcome!
ReplyDeleteI'm jumping in and heading to the nursery tomorrow. I love the Bee movie!!! and it is scary how they are disappearing... my kiddos aren't fans of bees but I tell them don't bug them they wont bug you... and then we watch the Bee movie again!! do you have any great advise on how to get rid of wasps... now those horrible insects hurt and carry yucky diseases.
ReplyDeleteI'll post my picture when I get my plants!
LuLu
Lulu - I'm so excited for you to go plant shopping and I hope it goes well! Can't wait to see your pics :)
ReplyDeleteOk, as for wasps, we have such a problem with them every year on our street. We all fight them and get nests under the roofs, ugh. There are non-pesticide traps that are quite effective. Wasps are carnivorous, so you trap them using raw meat. Gross, I know, but it does work. According to http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-hornets.htm, the trick is to get a raw meat trap out early in the spring to trap and kill any queens in the neighborhood, effectively getting rid of the colony. Good luck!
Oh, and Lulu - the raw meat wasp traps won't effect the bee population because bees are NOT carnivorous. We love Bee Movie, too and it was definitely a big part of starting our love for bees :)
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