After just finishing a beekeeping class with the Sandusky River Valley Beekeepers Association, I started to think about what plants the bees would need to have year round nourishment as close as possible to the hive; this would the basis for a few new plants this year as a baseline to adding my own hive in years to come. So what exactly would you want to have in your garden to assist the bees from springtime and well into the winter so they would have pollen to feed their queen? Take a look at the images of the plants and the time that they will be of the most benefit to the bees for nectar.
- Early Spring - Irish moss, snowdrop, crocus, hyacinth, daffodil
- Spring - tulip, forget me not, dandelion
- Summer - catmint, salvia, fushia, cornflower, yarrow, goldenrod, geranium, campanula, lavatera, hollyhock, sunflower, cotoneaster, foxglove
- Fall - heather, thistle, rudbekia, ivy, balsam, autumn crocus
Spacing the plants out of the direct line of the hives is desirable as the bees will defecate upon leaving the hive, so they will not be interested in the flowers immediately outside the hive for obvious reasons. Also a single headed flower will not attract the bees as much as a small clump of flowers with multiple flowers per each flower stem, consider your choices wisely. Our area to plant is finite and we want to make the most dramatic impact for the available space.
Herb gardens can also be a wonderful source of nectar for the hungry bees. The mint family which comprises sage, thyme, marjoram, and basil along with mint, and spearmint are a wonderful way to start feeding the bees, and they all grow well in containers if you decide to use a container garden or patio garden. So if you want to help the dwindling bee population, consider planting one or several pollinator feeding plants in your backyard or patio.
With personal and professional regards - Vince
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