A couple of days ago I read an article about how people are still trying to figure out what happened to all the bees (you know, colony collapse). The article mentioned how people can help by planting NATIVE flowering plants. This will either attract more honey bees, or at least attract other pollinating critters (like butterflies). Either way, it is a good thing because if the bees won't come back, we need other pollinators to pollinate the crops. Honey bees are critical to crop pollination. 1/3 of the human diet in the United States comes from insect-pollinated plants, and honeybees are responsible for 80% of that pollination.
Another huge plus to planting native species is they require little to no watering because they are native to the area where they are planted, so they are evolved (yes, evolved) to survive without sprinkler systems. You can find out what plants are native to your area using the drop-down menu here: http://www.plantnative.org
You can also help the bees by eliminating your use of pesticides and fertilizers at your home. One thing scientists are finding in these abandoned bee hives is huge amounts of chemicals from pesticides, leading some to think that colony collapse disorder could have been caused by people using too many pesticides in their home gardens. So, go organic - it is better for literally everyone. Well, except for the people who make money selling the chemicals, but they've profited off that for long enough. You can learn more about organic lawn care here and organic gardening here.
You can attract butterflies to your garden by planting butterfly host plants. Just make sure the plant is native to your area, otherwise the butterflies it is supposed to attract won't be around. Milkweed is the host plant for monarch butterflies, and I have seen first hand how many will come to a garden with only a handful of milkweed plants. You can watch the larvae turn into caterpillars which eat the leaves, and then turn into pupa, and then butterflies! It is awesome.
Another huge plus to planting native species is they require little to no watering because they are native to the area where they are planted, so they are evolved (yes, evolved) to survive without sprinkler systems. You can find out what plants are native to your area using the drop-down menu here: http://www.plantnative.org
You can also help the bees by eliminating your use of pesticides and fertilizers at your home. One thing scientists are finding in these abandoned bee hives is huge amounts of chemicals from pesticides, leading some to think that colony collapse disorder could have been caused by people using too many pesticides in their home gardens. So, go organic - it is better for literally everyone. Well, except for the people who make money selling the chemicals, but they've profited off that for long enough. You can learn more about organic lawn care here and organic gardening here.
You can attract butterflies to your garden by planting butterfly host plants. Just make sure the plant is native to your area, otherwise the butterflies it is supposed to attract won't be around. Milkweed is the host plant for monarch butterflies, and I have seen first hand how many will come to a garden with only a handful of milkweed plants. You can watch the larvae turn into caterpillars which eat the leaves, and then turn into pupa, and then butterflies! It is awesome.
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5 comments:
I totally missed this post.
I totally agree with native plants, low water usage and no pestisides.
I want milkweed now. the lifecycle is awesome.
責人之心責己，恕己之心恕人。.........................
Man is not made for defeat. A mean can be destroyed but not defeated...................................................
Bees are very important because they produce not only honey, but also beeswax propolis, pollen.
This is whay people should do everithing they can to save them.
This topic is really good. Bees are very important! Save the Bees! Biggest Online Shopping in India
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