Beneficial Bees

I have an affinity for bees. They are everything that I love – smart, resilient, magical. But with that said mankind has helped create factors which are threatening bees worldwide. This problem is known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Entire colonies of bees disappear and what remains in the hive is dead within hours. CCD is a complicated syndrome, but there is clear evidence of contributing factors, such as single crop farming and pesticide use. Thankfully, the surge in bee awareness has been astounding. Organizations, like Colonial Beekeepers Association which has over 200 members and meets right here in Yorktown are huge bee advocates. At 50,000 bees per hive, that’s a lot of bees that the membership nurtures. YAY bees and CBA! The great news for you is that it is not necessary to become a beekeeper to care for bees. Quite simply, providing food sources and limiting pesticide use are the easiest, most effective ways to help bees.

Every flower you plant helps, but with 50,000 mouths to feed, think trees or shrubs. Plant summer blooming trees like Crepe Myrtle and Little Leaf Linden, and shrubs like Clethra, Abelia, Hibiscus and Roses. Add winter bloomers like Camellias and Sarcococca. Laurels, Hollies and Tulip Poplars are also bee favorites. All will help fill in the gap when the nectar flow is not as abundant. In the fall mass plant pansies that will last until spring. You can enjoy the color while the bees enjoy the pollen when winter temperatures rise above 50 degrees.

Be mindful of pesticide use. Pollen and nectar of pesticide treated plants are brought back to the hive where it has a cumulative effect. Limit spraying until dusk when bees are less likely to be foraging. Use pesticides only when necessary and only on targeted plants. In big ways or small, we are all beekeepers!

Eileen, Manager of Trees and Shrubs

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There will also be local honey available for sampling!!

Aug 1-18

Check This Out!

August is a busy time for hummingbirds as the males prepare to migrate to the south. The initial urge is triggered by the shortening length of sunlight as autumn approaches, and has nothing to do with temperature or the availability of food. In fact, hummingbirds migrate south at the time of greatest food abundance.Hummingbirds are carnivores (nectar is just the fuel to power their fly catching activity), and depend on insects that are not abundant in subfreezing weather. If they don’t retreat back “home” to Central America in the winter they risk starvation. After building up a substantial supply of fat, (hummers can more than double their weight), they migrate across the Gulf of Mexico to winter in Central and South America.
While hummers are on the move, your feeders will help provide much needed energy to birds passing through, so keep those feeders full!

Plant Features that Attract Bees, Hummingbirds, & Butterflies

First food.

Flowers provide two kinds of food for pollinators: nectar, a carbohydrate good for butterflies and hummingbirds who burn through calories with their high metabolisms, and pollen, a protein good for bees that collect it to feed their young.

Bloom features matter, too. First, shape: small tubular flowers attract bees which have long proboscis. Longer tubular flowers attract hummingbirds. Butterflies need mid-size flowers with open petals for landing since they can’t hover to forage.

Next color. Hummingbirds like red and orange; butterflies like white, yellow and orange. Bees see ultraviolet signals so make your choices based on other factors to attract bees.

Choose native plants when possible. Native plants make food better suited to our indigenous pollinators. than exotic species.

Tips for the Garden

Planning on planting a fescue lawn this fall? Start your renovations in August! Apply Kleen-up or Round-up to kill all existing grass and weeds. After everything dies rake out the dead plant matter (repeat if necessary), then aerate. To get maximum results, always water the area to be renovated for a day or two before aerating. When aerating be sure to make two passes: The second pass should be perpendicular to your first pass.