Bees are one of the indicators of a safe environment for humans because they require a clean and healthy ambience for their survival. Every year, March is marked as the month of bee protection, so we decided to present you how you can help these insects whether you own a hive or not.
Creating a honey garden or enriching bee pasture is very important for any bee colony. The presence of pollen cannot be compensated with practically anything but planting plants. There’ve been various attempts to replace it with powdered milk or some other, artificially synthesized substances, but without success. In addition to quantity, you should have in mind that the diversity of plant species is very important. If the community does not have enough intake of pollen and nectar for several days, it receives a signal to enter the restriction. Restriction is a process in which queens reduce brooding and lead to fewer new bees.
If you have a garden, or a place on your terrace, but you are not sure what to plant from plant species, here are some suggestions:
Deciduous trees and fruits are a great choice if you have a large yard, garden or beehive. If you like fruit trees, we recommend:
- Apple (Malus domestica)
- Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)
- Plum (Prunus domestica)
- Cherry (Prunus cerasus)
If by any chance you do not want trees with fruit, there are always:
- Linden (Tilia tomentosa)
- Birch (Betula pendula)
- Willow (Salix babylonica)
- Chestnut (Castanea sp.)
In addition to great shade, these trees will also provide you with beautiful fragrance.
For all those people who live in apartments, don’t worry – we have prepared something for you too! On your terraces, you can plant plants in pots all year round! You can start planting from seed and nurture them throughout the growth process. Your options are different:
- Cornflower (Centaurea jacea)
- Clover (Trifolium sp.)
- Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
There are, of course, herbs to which we would place special emphasis:
- Snowdrop (Galanthus sp.)
These plants are the first food sources for bees, since they bloom in February or March. As bees collect the first nectar and pollen from them, they are very important as part of the pasture for the development of the bee society.
- Saffron (Crocus sativus)
It is considered one of the most expensive spices. It gives bees more nectar than pollen and its planting is recommended especially in populated areas, next to roads or unused land because it represents the earliest pasture for bees.
- Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Honey collected during the flowering of this plant is highly valued and requested. This is a spice but also a medicinal plant that bees adore. Honey is rare, darker in color but very healing, with a specific smell and taste, even a little bitter.
- Sage (Salvia officinalis)
The plant has a very short flowering period, but its flowers are very rich in pollen and nectar and greatly enrich the bee pasture. It is leading for the treatment of various types of diseases because it contains a high percentage of vitamin C and is ideal against viruses and bacteria.
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Although this Mediterranean plant requires a lot of light, it is very attractive to bees. As it is a common spice, we suggest that you grow it in several small pots.
- Lavender (Lavandula sp.)
We all know at least one person who doesn’t like the smell of lavender. But if you belong to the type of people who love the smell of this plant, we definitely recommend it! Lavender is a very desirable honey plant because it blooms in a period when the choice for bee grazing is reduced, somewhere near the end of the summer season. Lavender honey is aromatic and medicinal, and scientific research shows that it has a great effect on the immunity of bees.
In addition to being decorative, most of these plants enrich your space, and play a role in your diet but they also enrich the bees’ table with pollen and nectar. By planting some of these species you help biodiversity and create conditions in which bees, whether in hives or free nature, have a sufficient source of food for their survival but also the survival of many plant species, and we are always for mutual benefit!