Bees can travel up to 5 km to forage for nectar, gathering sweet nectar that will become delicious honey. During these long flights, bees are exposed to numerous dangers. Whether it's predation by birds, mammals, or other insects, bees always fly with keen awareness of their surroundings. If this were the only risk they faced, everything would be fine. But that's far from the case. The environment in which we live has severely jeopardized the survival of bees. The average annual loss of bee colonies in Quebec was approximately 501 per 100,000 in 2022. So, what can be done to help the bees?
It goes without saying that bees get their food from flowers, but not all types of flowers attract bees. Some flowers attract them more than others because of their scent and color. So, which flowers can we plant to help them find the nectar and pollen they love so much?
Did you know that with a home vegetable garden, you're offering a beautiful bouquet of flowers that attracts bees and other pollinating insects? In fact, nearly 801% of what we eat must first be pollinated by insects. Here are a few vegetables and herbs that bees love.
And much more!
What we call weeds is actually an excellent source of nectar for bees. For example, towards the end of July, there's a slight lull in flowering, and bees have more difficulty finding food. This short period ends with the arrival of goldenrod, which blooms from August to September. It's the first plant to appear at this time of year and will flower until mid-September in some cases. Unfortunately, it's considered a weed and is often cut or pulled up. Let it grow; it will make a lovely addition to your flower bed and requires no maintenance. Goldenrod and dandelions are two examples of flowers that are often disliked but very important for bees.
Weeds allow bees and other pollinating insects to find an abundant food source throughout the season, thus enabling them to have a healthy and varied diet.
To help the bees, let them grow.
Goldenrod flower
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