Bee friendly garden

[cheshirecat25]

Hello!

I have been doing some landscaping to my yard. I have my vegetable garden set up and growing, but I have a fairly large section of land that is just dirt at the moment. I thought about it and I think I want to create a bee friendly section to the yard. I have no intention of actually bee keeping. Just a place that may attract them while they are out and to get some water as well. Any suggestions on plants that they like or colors that attract them?
I live in southern California where essentially anything grows at any time of year if that helps.

 

[Eggscaping]

Bees really like what's called compositae flowers. Each flower is actually a cluster of tiny flowers, which means - more pollen! Daisies are compositae, as are sunflowers. Here's a wiki page that lists lots of them. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteraceae If you google "flowers pollinators" that will give you ideas, too. MOST IMPORTANT is that you use no pesticides in your yard - at all. Bees go from flower to flower and pesticides will kill them.
Also, clover is wonderful, it adds nitrogen to the ground and bees adore the flowers. Good luck!
Oh, one more thing: A shallow bowl of water will attract them, but be sure to put in a stick or something so they can climb out if they fall in!

 

[cheshirecat25]

Thank you! I was reading if you take a bird bath and fill it with small smooth pebbles you can fill it shallowly with water so they can sit on the rocks and drink without drowning. Do you think that's a good idea?

 

[swamphiker]

One of the best things you can do for native pollinators is to have native plants in your garden. Native plants will be the most beneficial for everything, from butterflies to native bees. Another huge advantage of native plants is that they will be low-maintenance and shouldn't require much if any extra water once they are established since they are adapted to your local conditions. Consider reaching out to your local chapter of the California Native Plant Society: https://www.cnps.org/chapters/map. They should have plenty of resources and will help you to plan your garden, pick the right plants, suggest nurseries, and have tips for controlling garden pests without pesticides.

You didn't specify what type of bees you are looking to attract, but it is worth noting that the honey bee, while important for commercial crop pollination, is not native to the U.S. and can push out native bees and other pollinators. There are so many wonderful native bees that are incredibly important for native ecosystems that are also very docile and fun to watch. More info on California native bees here that includes some gardening tips: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/blog/beyond-honey-bee-learn-more-about-california-native-bees There is a lot you can do to help pollinators with minimal effort, such as leaving sticks or leaf litter undisturbed since many bees nest on the ground. I am also a big fan of "lazy gardening", which is setting aside a corner of your yard for native weeds to pop up and grow rather than mowing or putting down mulch or pearock.

As you might be able to tell, this is something I am super passionate about. Chicken-keeping is a hobby of mine, but I am actually an entomologist by profession, so let me know if you have any additional questions! I am located in Florida, but should be able to help connect you with resources in your area.

 

[cheshirecat25]

One of the best things you can do for native pollinators is to have native plants in your garden. Native plants will be the most beneficial for everything, from butterflies to native bees. Another huge advantage of native plants is that they will be low-maintenance and shouldn't require much if any extra water once they are established since they are adapted to your local conditions. Consider reaching out to your local chapter of the California Native Plant Society: https://www.cnps.org/chapters/map. They should have plenty of resources and will help you to plan your garden, pick the right plants, suggest nurseries, and have tips for controlling garden pests without pesticides.

You didn't specify what type of bees you are looking to attract, but it is worth noting that the honey bee, while important for commercial crop pollination, is not native to the U.S. and can push out native bees and other pollinators. There are so many wonderful native bees that are incredibly important for native ecosystems that are also very docile and fun to watch. More info on California native bees here that includes some gardening tips: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/blog/beyond-honey-bee-learn-more-about-california-native-bees There is a lot you can do to help pollinators with minimal effort, such as leaving sticks or leaf litter undisturbed since many bees nest on the ground. I am also a big fan of "lazy gardening", which is setting aside a corner of your yard for native weeds to pop up and grow rather than mowing or putting down mulch or pearock.

As you might be able to tell, this is something I am super passionate about. Chicken-keeping is a hobby of mine, but I am actually an entomologist by profession, so let me know if you have any additional questions! I am located in Florida, but should be able to help connect you with resources in your area.

This is all wonderful! I'm going to look into the resources you provided.

 

[Eggscaping]

Thank you! I was reading if you take a bird bath and fill it with small smooth pebbles you can fill it shallowly with water so they can sit on the rocks and drink without drowning. Do you think that's a good idea?

I do, yes. I've seen so many bees come to a bird bath to drink. We used a VERY shallow sloping one and left it 'not quite full to the brim' and the bees learned to land there and crawl down to the water - but pebbles or marbles work too. Just know it will dry out faster so you have to keep an eye on it to refill it.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I have bees. My bees LOVE catnip, but other bee friendly flowers I've grown are sunflowers, bee balm, borage, nastursiums, marigolds, lavender and lemon balm. I like those because they are edible for me too! I have growing wild honeysuckle, which they love, and phlox. As another comment mentioned, honeysuckle is an excellent choice. Also leave those lawn dandelions alone! Bees love them for their pollen. For longer term options, fruit trees are a bee favorite. If you're looking outside of the honeybee spectrum, summer squashes are a bee favorite too! I'm sure there are loads more options that I haven't thought of.

 

[Eggscaping]

One of the best things you can do for native pollinators is to have native plants in your garden. Native plants will be the most beneficial for everything, from butterflies to native bees. Another huge advantage of native plants is that they will be low-maintenance and shouldn't require much if any extra water once they are established since they are adapted to your local conditions. Consider reaching out to your local chapter of the California Native Plant Society: https://www.cnps.org/chapters/map. They should have plenty of resources and will help you to plan your garden, pick the right plants, suggest nurseries, and have tips for controlling garden pests without pesticides.

You didn't specify what type of bees you are looking to attract, but it is worth noting that the honey bee, while important for commercial crop pollination, is not native to the U.S. and can push out native bees and other pollinators. There are so many wonderful native bees that are incredibly important for native ecosystems that are also very docile and fun to watch. More info on California native bees here that includes some gardening tips: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/blog/beyond-honey-bee-learn-more-about-california-native-bees There is a lot you can do to help pollinators with minimal effort, such as leaving sticks or leaf litter undisturbed since many bees nest on the ground. I am also a big fan of "lazy gardening", which is setting aside a corner of your yard for native weeds to pop up and grow rather than mowing or putting down mulch or pearock.

As you might be able to tell, this is something I am super passionate about. Chicken-keeping is a hobby of mine, but I am actually an entomologist by profession, so let me know if you have any additional questions! I am located in Florida, but should be able to help connect you with resources in your area.

OMG yes!!! Our previously bare, new yard seriously had NOTHING but "mutt grass and weeds". We have planted tons of Oregon natives, and are letting our "lawn" stay mixed. Clover, weeds with such pretty, tiny flowers...and the back part completely wild. No mowing, no pulling except to help native plants we put in there. We also laid down logs and pieces of wood for garter snakes to shelter under. You are our kind of person!!! <3

 

[cheshirecat25]

I have bees. My bees LOVE catnip, but other bee friendly flowers I've grown are sunflowers, bee balm, borage, nastursiums, marigolds, lavender and lemon balm. I like those because they are edible for me too! I have growing wild honeysuckle, which they love, and phlox. As another comment mentioned, honeysuckle is an excellent choice. Also leave those lawn dandelions alone! Bees love them for their pollen. For longer term options, fruit trees are a bee favorite. If you're looking outside of the honeybee spectrum, summer squashes are a bee favorite too! I'm sure there are loads more options that I haven't thought of.

We do have several fruit and citrus trees growing right now. Hopefully they will like them. I have a lavender bush, but its in a pot near the door and I don't know if they see it. Maybe I should transfer it. I'm looking to attract any types of bees. i just want to help them out.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

We do have several fruit and citrus trees growing right now. Hopefully they will like them. I have a lavender bush, but its in a pot near the door and I don't know if they see it. Maybe I should transfer it. I'm looking to attract any types of bees. i just want to help them out.

Oh, they will find it. This year I planted three new apple trees. They came with blossoms on them. I had them sitting in the yard for only a few hours and the bees had already found the flowers.