By Christine Reid
What images come to mind when someone says they’re making a bee garden? Bees flying around carrying tiny shovels and wearing stylish little garden hats? Uh, if so, you might think about having your medications adjusted.
Or maybe it sounds like a garden where someone ‘grows’ bees? Close to it. Creating a bee garden, or more accurately, a bee-friendly garden, helps replace some of the habitat that bees lose whenever development occurs. It also increases bee diversity, which leads to better overall species health. That’s good for all of us since we really need bees to keep doing what they do, which is pollinate plants, specifically food crops. It’s all about food. We have to have it and, in many cases, food production depends on pollination; it’s thought that as much as a third of our food crops require it. That’s where bees and other pollinators such as butterflies, moths, birds, bats, pollen wasps and hummingbirds come into the picture.
It’s important to note that a well-known pollinator, the honey bee, is not native to our country. It’s believed that European settlers first brought honey bees to America nearly 400 years ago. Obviously, local bees were doing their thing long before honey bees came around and native bees still do most of the pollinating in Texas. There are several hundred bee species native to Texas, including bumblebees, leaf-cutter bees, mason bees, mining bees, squash bees and sunflower bees, to mention just a few.
Even though the worsening plight of honey bees has been widely reported in the last few years, native bees are also suffering from a distressing loss of habitat, habitat fragmentation (isolated clumps of nectar plants surrounded by large areas of cleared land) and pesticide use. It can all seem rather bleak and hopeless to the average person, but there are ways a homeowner can help support these vitally important insects.
First, when you’re putting plants into your yard and garden, think native. Native plants have more of the nectar and pollen that bees need. Some hybrid plants, especially those with double flowers, have less nutrition than native plants and aren’t as attractive to pollinators. An added advantage to planting natives is that they tend to be more drought tolerant and are better adapted to local growing conditions.
Try to install different plants that flower throughout the growing season, not just in the spring. And consider providing flowers of varying shapes, sizes and colors to appeal to different types of bees. In general, bees are attracted to blue, violet, white and yellow blooms and plants with fragrance.
Some excellent native plants, trees and shrubs that bees are drawn to include: Gulf Coast penstemon, crossvine, kidneywood, Texas native lantana, Texas redbud, golden groundsel, Mexican plum, cedar sage, Mexican buckeye, agarita, Texas persimmon, blue mist flower, white mist flower, coral honeysuckle, flame acanthus, milkweed and many more.
Don’t forget herbs! Besides being fragrant, pretty and often edible, they’re also good providers of nectar and pollen to both native bees and honeybees. They include lavender, catmint, rosemary, basil, yarrow, borage, lemon balm, culinary sage, official hyssop, anise hyssop and sweet marjoram, among others. There are many other plants and vines that will provide nectar for the bees such as sunflowers, vitex, purple hyacinth bean vine, coral vine and antique climbing roses, along with pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes and more. Plant some of these for you and for the bees!
Beyond the choice of plants, it’s also helpful to make the garden design more bee friendly. Plant flowers (preferably the same variety) in a large patch, such as 4X4, to help pollinators locate them more easily. Also, many native bees nest in the ground, so leaving some bare, untilled areas of soil in full sun is recommended. For the wood-nesting bees, leave tree branches and stumps around for them to use as a home base. You can also make a simple bee hotel for solitary bees like mason bees and leaf cutter bees. Instructions are available online. Ultimately, try to get more comfortable with a less tidy-looking garden; having a few clumps of uncut grass or dead plant stalks will provide shelter from the wind for bees, butterflies and other pollinators and can bring a rustic charm to the garden.
Make your yard healthier for bees and other beneficial insects by avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides. By not using toxic products in your garden, you’ll not only help the bees but also prevent your family and pets from being needlessly exposed to chemicals. Turn to the organic or natural methods first when faced with a gardening pest or issue.
Most foraging bees are intent on the flower and won’t take notice of you being nearby. Use common sense around their nests and place plants where people won’t be brushing up against them. You don’t have to fear bees and other stinging pollinators, you just have to respect them. If you discover a wild honey bee hive in your yard, stay away from it and contact the appropriate authority for information on how to deal with it.
Just like people, bees and other pollinators need a source of clean water. Provide a small pond or fountain for the bees, if you can. Or, put out a large shallow dish of water with a few small rocks in it to give them something to sit on as they drink. Many bees, such as mason bees, require mud to construct their homes, so making a small muddy area for them is very helpful.
Bees go from flower to flower to collect pollen and nectar and in turn help pollinate our plants. Let’s keep this beautiful relationship going. Forget about the tiny shovels and garden hats – create a bee garden!
Any questions? Send email to [email protected] or call (512) 398-6011.
Resources for Bee Gardening
www.xerces.org
www.texasbumblebees.com
www.pollinator.org
www.beewatchers.com
www.npsot.org
www.nativebeeconservancy.org
