Here's the Buzz About Bee-Friendly
Gardens
Bee-friendly gardens help create floral beauty, healthy produce and a
vibrant ecology, but a host of threats now endangers the venerable
honey bee.
As Angel Lindenlaub strolled among the flowers in her garden
recently, several bees buzzed near the aromatic roses, salvia,
lavender, poppies and penstemon. The professional landscape
designer and master gardener couldn’t have been more pleased.
Lindenlaub, owner of Heaven on Earth Design in Thousand Oaks,
became fascinated with bees two years ago when an ominous-
looking hive formed in her front yard. She began observing the
insects’ behavior. When Santa Ana winds knocked down the hive,
she urged local beekeepers to rescue the bees.
“It broke my heart to see that hive destroyed,” she said. “That’s
when I started to learn about bees. I hadn’t realized how
important bees are to our ecology. Certain foods would never come
to the table without bees.”
Nature’s Star Pollinators
It’s hard to imagine a world without bees. Apples, almonds, pears
and berries are among the plants relying on these insects.
Virtually all flowering plants require animals for pollination, and bees
are the hardest working pollinators. Even self-pollinating crops,
such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, tend to produce higher-
quality fruit when cross-pollinated by bees.
Bees are nature’s star pollinator, but few people realize their
importance, according to Mike Vaughan, who was a commercial
beekeeper in Ojai over 25 years.
“Even cheese needs bees,” he said earnestly. “Alfalfa seed is
pollinated by bees, and that seed grows to hay, which is bought by
farmers for cows that produce milk for cheese. Bees affect us more
than we realize.”
Lots of Challenges
Unfortunately, bees are in serious trouble. More than half the
nation’s honey bees have been killed by an Asian parasite known
as Varroa mites, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Decades of rampant pesticide use and urban development have
only compounded the problem.
Scott Hoffman Black believes the secret lies in increasing native
bees. Black is executive director of the Xerces Society, a Portland,
Oregon-based invertebrate conservation organization. He said the
European honey bee is the best known species. But there are
about 4,000 native bee species in the United States, and up to
1,500 species around California.
“All plants were once pollinated by native bees,” said Black. “It
wasn’t until the 1950s and the advent of large mono-culture farms
that many native bees were killed off, and commercial honey bees
used for pollination.”
Bringing Back Bees
Want to help? Increasing native bees in your garden relies on
three factors:
Unlike honey bees, most native bees are solitary insects. About 60
percent nest in the ground, about a foot beneath the soil.
“Some ground-nesting bees are very small,” said Black. “People
rarely notice them, or mistake them for ants.” Leave a patch of
loose soil untouched and surrounded by clumps of vegetation in
your garden. These bees like sandy loam that dries quickly.
About 35 percent of native bees nest in old wood – a problem in our
suburban environments, where there aren’t many dead trees lying
around. You can make nests for native bees by boring different
sized holes in lumber.
Diverse sources of nectar and pollen are critical, reminded
Vaughan. “Select plants that bloom at different times throughout
the year to keep local hives stimulated,” he said. “When there isn’t
enough nectar, bees stop laying eggs.”
Native plants are better at attracting native bees, because they
evolved together, advised Black. But older varieties of flowers and
herbs, like lavender, rosemary, calendula and cosmos, are also
good bee-attractors.
For best results, look for straight species, and avoid fancy new
cultivars. “Some new hybrids don’t have nectar or pollen,” he
warned. “They look nice, but they won’t attract bees.”
Avoid pesticides, wherever possible. Bees need only a tiny amount
to be affected. If you get pesticides on the flowers, bees may take
pesticide-laden pollen back to the nest and kill the eggs. If you
must spray, do so in the evening or on overcast days, when bees
aren’t around. Pay careful attention to usage instructions.
“We’re doing a lot of damage to our planet,” said Black. “But native
bees allow us to do something positive in our own backyards to
increase biological diversity and help our world. Everyone working
together can help bring back the bees.”
Gardens
Bee-friendly gardens help create floral beauty, healthy produce and a
vibrant ecology, but a host of threats now endangers the venerable
honey bee.
As Angel Lindenlaub strolled among the flowers in her garden
recently, several bees buzzed near the aromatic roses, salvia,
lavender, poppies and penstemon. The professional landscape
designer and master gardener couldn’t have been more pleased.
Lindenlaub, owner of Heaven on Earth Design in Thousand Oaks,
became fascinated with bees two years ago when an ominous-
looking hive formed in her front yard. She began observing the
insects’ behavior. When Santa Ana winds knocked down the hive,
she urged local beekeepers to rescue the bees.
“It broke my heart to see that hive destroyed,” she said. “That’s
when I started to learn about bees. I hadn’t realized how
important bees are to our ecology. Certain foods would never come
to the table without bees.”
Nature’s Star Pollinators
It’s hard to imagine a world without bees. Apples, almonds, pears
and berries are among the plants relying on these insects.
Virtually all flowering plants require animals for pollination, and bees
are the hardest working pollinators. Even self-pollinating crops,
such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, tend to produce higher-
quality fruit when cross-pollinated by bees.
Bees are nature’s star pollinator, but few people realize their
importance, according to Mike Vaughan, who was a commercial
beekeeper in Ojai over 25 years.
“Even cheese needs bees,” he said earnestly. “Alfalfa seed is
pollinated by bees, and that seed grows to hay, which is bought by
farmers for cows that produce milk for cheese. Bees affect us more
than we realize.”
Lots of Challenges
Unfortunately, bees are in serious trouble. More than half the
nation’s honey bees have been killed by an Asian parasite known
as Varroa mites, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Decades of rampant pesticide use and urban development have
only compounded the problem.
Scott Hoffman Black believes the secret lies in increasing native
bees. Black is executive director of the Xerces Society, a Portland,
Oregon-based invertebrate conservation organization. He said the
European honey bee is the best known species. But there are
about 4,000 native bee species in the United States, and up to
1,500 species around California.
“All plants were once pollinated by native bees,” said Black. “It
wasn’t until the 1950s and the advent of large mono-culture farms
that many native bees were killed off, and commercial honey bees
used for pollination.”
Bringing Back Bees
Want to help? Increasing native bees in your garden relies on
three factors:
- nest sites;
- floral resources; and
- limited pesticide use.
Unlike honey bees, most native bees are solitary insects. About 60
percent nest in the ground, about a foot beneath the soil.
“Some ground-nesting bees are very small,” said Black. “People
rarely notice them, or mistake them for ants.” Leave a patch of
loose soil untouched and surrounded by clumps of vegetation in
your garden. These bees like sandy loam that dries quickly.
About 35 percent of native bees nest in old wood – a problem in our
suburban environments, where there aren’t many dead trees lying
around. You can make nests for native bees by boring different
sized holes in lumber.
Diverse sources of nectar and pollen are critical, reminded
Vaughan. “Select plants that bloom at different times throughout
the year to keep local hives stimulated,” he said. “When there isn’t
enough nectar, bees stop laying eggs.”
Native plants are better at attracting native bees, because they
evolved together, advised Black. But older varieties of flowers and
herbs, like lavender, rosemary, calendula and cosmos, are also
good bee-attractors.
For best results, look for straight species, and avoid fancy new
cultivars. “Some new hybrids don’t have nectar or pollen,” he
warned. “They look nice, but they won’t attract bees.”
Avoid pesticides, wherever possible. Bees need only a tiny amount
to be affected. If you get pesticides on the flowers, bees may take
pesticide-laden pollen back to the nest and kill the eggs. If you
must spray, do so in the evening or on overcast days, when bees
aren’t around. Pay careful attention to usage instructions.
“We’re doing a lot of damage to our planet,” said Black. “But native
bees allow us to do something positive in our own backyards to
increase biological diversity and help our world. Everyone working
together can help bring back the bees.”
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| Article published in Ventura County Star California (Home & Garden section) May 27, 2005 |
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