What would we do without bees?
Did you know it is National Bee Week this week (26th – 30th July)? Which is amazing, because I was just wondering what the council bylaws say about keeping bees in my back garden (although, my boys have said ‘no way, Mum!’), when I heard on the radio yesterday that it’s National Bee Week. It must be a sign! So, to do my bit in promoting the beautiful bee, visit the National Beekeepers’ Association of New Zealand website for more information.
Apparently, bee numbers have been decreasing all over the world and one theory suggests the use of mobile phones is to blame. I think there are probably a lot more other reasons – like dwindling food supplies, for starters.
What can we do to help? Plant flowers and flowering shrubs to invite the lovely bee into your garden. I’ve just moved my rosemary and lavender next to my vegetable patch. That’s where I want the bees so they can pollinate my courgette later this summer (and I’ll need bumbles bees a little earlier for my broad beans). I’ve also bought some sunflower seeds to grow just for them.
I’m not actually fond of insects (bit of a phobia towards spiders – okay, huge phobia) but the bee has my total respect. They are absolutely vital for pollination and we get honey – win, win all round. And, my local council says that I can keep bees provided this is done on a small scale.
Are there any other budding apiarists out there? What would we do without the bee?
One Comment
Tags: Bees, flowers, Garden, Pollination
brent.c. says:
Added 29 Jul 10 — 10:42 am
If bees are scarce get a piece of meat , let it go off and then place it amongst the plants you need pollinated. Flies will do the same job as the bees. I use birds to pollinate my feiijoa trees. Have a bird feeder next to my seven feiijoa trees. This attracts more birds into our property the sit in the trees before and after feeding.
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