An Introduction to Bee Gardens
As we start to understand the importance of our bees, we have started to appreciate all the gardens and flowerbeds that we have on our doorstep. Hopefully they will provide inspiration to us to plant our own little flower gardens, wherever we can.
Stephen’s Green is in it’s prime this time of the year (We really appreciate the OPW for the work they do here www.ststephensgreenpark.ie).
Our favourite, is the wild flowerbed that arrives every year.
Stephen’s Green: June 2019
Our plants and crops depend on bees for pollination, but our bees are in rapid decline and there is now an urgent need for us to help them survive.
“70 out of the top 100 human food crops, which supply about 90 percent of the world’s nutrition, are pollinated by bees.”
In fact, An Taisce estimates that the value of bees to the Irish economy at more than €53 million a year.
So, the next time you see a cluster of wildflowers, appreciate the importance of their existence and perhaps consider planting you own bee friendly garden. Here are a few tips:
Plant Bee-Friendly Flowers
Flowers with a single row of petals, such as bluebells and poppies, are more attractive to bees. These single-petal flowers have more pollen than other flowers, so they provide more food for bees.
Here are some flowers they like best:
Asters
Clover
Dahlias
Foxglove
Geraniums
Marigolds
Poppies
Roses
Snowdrops
Sunflowers
Bluebells
Honeysuckle
Plant in Clusters
One species of flower planted in a cluster will attract more bees than individual plants scattered throughout the garden, so think about plating lots of the same flower together beside each other.
Plant Flowering Fruit & Vegetables
If you grow your own fruit and vegetables at home, bees will also benefit. A lot of vegetables, fruits and berries, especially cherries, yield fragrant flowers that are attractive to bees.
Here are a few bee favourites:
Blackberries
Cucumbers
Cherries
Peppers
Strawberries
Plant Yellow, White, Blue & Purple Flowers
These colours attract bees more than pinks, oranges and reds. You don’t have to exclusively plant your garden with these colours, but having a good amount of them will help.
Stephen’s Green June 2019
