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How can I help the bees?

Many of our customers are concerned about the decline of the bees and often ask us if there is anything that they can do to help. We have put together a list of a few things that anyone can do. More than 130 agricultural plants in the US are primarily pollinated by the honey bee. This equates to about 1/3 of our food supply. In Ohio they are responsible for the pollination of 80% of vegetable and fruit crops. Every little bit helps. Remember, we’re all going to be in trouble if we lose the honey bee.

1. Plant a honey bee garden

A successful bee garden should include a variety of bee-friendly flowering plants. The more diverse your garden, the more attractive it will be to bees. Some common bee-friendly plants include:

• Asters (Asters/Callistephus)
• Sunflowers (Helianthus/Tithonia)
• Salvia (Salvia/Farinacea-Strata/Splendens)
• Bee Balm (Monarda)
• Hyssop (Agastache)
• Mint (Mentha)
• Cleome/Spider Flower (Ckeome)
• Thyme (Thymus)
• Poppy (Papaver/Eschscholzia)
• Bachelor’s Buttons (Centaurea)

2. Support your local beekeeper

Honeybees are among the most effective pollinators in most local ecosystems. Often, the value that healthy bee colonies provide to an ecosystem far outweighs their value to individual beekeepers. Support local beekeepers by buying honey that was produced in your region.

3. Start a hive in your back yard

Join the ranks of beekeepers in your area. Here in Columbus there are great resources ready to help you get started. Contact the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association (COBA) to sign up for their annual Beekeeping class. Contact us if you would like to receive information on Bee Class 2008.

4. Reduce your use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.

5. Refrain from using herbicides and/or pesticides in your yard or garden during active bloom. 

Let your dandelions grow, they happen to be one of the best bee flowers!!

6. Call us if you see a bee swarm (614-354-5162). We will be happy to come and remove it for you. 

A swarm is a large group of honey bees that suddenly appears often in a shrub or tree from April through July. Usually the bees have left an overcrowded hive and are traveling with their queen on a quest to find a new home. They are at their most harmless at this time. By no means are we suggesting you should disturb them and risk being stung, but don’t worry that this is an immediately dangerous situation. Before they leave their home honeybees gorge themselves on honey, and if they recently swarmed they are often so stuffed that they cannot physically bend themselves to sting you. DO NOT SPRAY THEM!  Simply give us a call and we will be more than happy to remove them for you!