Photo courtesy of Tetyana Kovyrina on Pexels
Did you know that bees are our most important pollinators? In fact, they’re responsible for nearly one in three bites of food we take!
Unfortunately, bees are endangered. So, if you see one buzzing around your flowers, don’t shoo it away. They use the flower nectar for food, while also helping pollinate the flowers. Instead, you and the family can work together to create a bee-friendly garden, keeping both bees safe and helping your flowers flourish!
By gardening, you can spend quality time outdoors with your children while teaching them all about caring for the environment. So, without further ado, here’s how to create a garden that both your family and the bees can enjoy.
1. Plant Flowers that Attract Bees
Bees have a unique vision, seeing only colors on the ultraviolet spectrum. This means that they can’t see reddish colors and hues close to it. Bees are more likely to approach yellow, blue, and purple flowers.
Also, and most importantly, are flower fragrances. The sweet smells indicate to bees that the flowers are full of nectar, which is their food. With these two notes in mind, here are a few flowers to consider:
Lavender
Daisies
Marigolds
Dahlias
Sunflowers
2. Prioritize Plant Diversity
Bumble bees, although popular, aren’t the only bees you’ll see flying around your garden. There are actually over 22,000 species of bees, and only 500 of them make honey!
The most popular ones you can expect to encounter are carpenter bees, honey bees, leafcutter bees, and sweat bees. Each one has different attributes and habits from the other, so plant diversity helps ensure you’re catering to more than one type of bee species.
3. Create a Safe Space for Bees
Contrary to popular belief, bees aren’t aggressive insects. They only sting when they feel threatened, such as when their hives are obstructed by lawn mowers and leaf blowers. Otherwise, they’re simply buzzing around looking for food.
In addition to flower choices, you can make sure your garden is bee-friendly by providing shelter and water for the bees. A small rock pond, for example, is an easy water supply for bees. Also, a shaded area by the plants is a safe place for bees to build their nests.
In addition to gardening, coloring is a fun way to help your little ones practice their motor skills. Get the kids involved through these engaging worksheets:
Photos courtesy of Angi.com
For school-aged children, parents can explain the important role bees play in our ecosystem. Discuss pollination, honey production, and how beekeepers help to keep them safe. Use the following worksheet for children to associate bee-related vocabulary with images:
These garden activities can promote more outdoor time as well as a sense of environmental awareness for young minds. Download all of the printable worksheets here!
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