Constantly, I am questioned why I dedicate my energy and so much of my time to ensuring that the native wildlife are receiving the things they need to survive--well, this is why:
http://www.ted.com/talks/marla_spivak_why_bees_are_disappearing.html
Dr. Spivak beautifully summarizes the reason why these bees are suffering from colony collapse disorder and the means of improving it. Her ideas are simple and generally small-scale, which is the same case for my garden in a patchwork of green lawns and houses, but even providing a chance is enough reason to do it. Honey bees absolutely love my plants that are blooming--from the Island Morning Glory to the Channel Island Bush Poppy. These flower blossoms with their nutritious protein and excellent nectar are attractive to bees and they simply swarm all over them in attempts to get a bit of it. In the winter and fall, the honeysuckle blooms, though difficult to reach for many bees, are also providing that valuable nutrients for these poor bees stuck amidst a green desert. But it simply doesn't stop at the bees, because there are other animals, insects, and birds finding themselves stuck in a similar situation. As birds scan the entire area, they find an expanse of green lawn--but no food--and thus do not stop in the area, no matter how weary they are during migration. However, when they see something worthwhile, like some flowers, bushes, promising trees, they would gladly stop by and check it out--perhaps even deciding to reside there consistently every year.
She mentions planting plants that are great for all bees--what plants are better than the one with bees in its scientific name,
Salvia mellifera? It's the Black Sage and its scientific name refers to the honey bee. The flowers are not only great for bees, but butterflies as well! There's tons of California natives that are good for bees, and just by looking at the flower, you can tell the suitability for bees. Bees and butterflies tend to prefer compound flowers, where the flowers are actually bunched together into a single 'flower', like asters, daisies and sunflowers. Nonetheless, other types of flowers are used as well, so long as the bees can reach into it. There was also mention of the substance propolis, which is used in construction of hives to prevent infection in the hive. The origins of propolis is actually plant resin, a sticky substance found on the leaves of plants. They harvest the resin in their little handy-dandy pollen pouches and bring it back to the nest, where they can use it in construction and whatnot. While all plants have these resins on their leaves, there's some plants in particularly that deserve mention: pines and other conifers,
Baccharis. Both groups of plants are quite resinous in nature and are extensively used by honey bees in production of propolis. Consider planting them!
Again, bees are a vital part of our every day life and the holistic health of the ecosystem. Helping them would be helping the general improvement of Mother Nature.
Let's start planning some bee plants for the next fall planting season. Or you could plant in spring. Up to you.
