The bee population has been in serious decline, to a worrisome degree. What is known as “colony collapse disorder”, or CCD, has yet to be fully explained although there are a few solid suspects. More than anything, humans – what they do or don’t do – are killing bees. These tiny creatures are so critical to our ecosystem (and our continued supply of honey!), we just can’t ignore this. Want to help in some easy ways? For starters, don’t pull the dandelions.
CindyLu is not impressed
Every spring, spots of bright yellow dot the lawns across the land. And every spring, homeowners everywhere begin their battle against these beauties – pulling them out by the root, spraying and treating their lawns with chemicals to kill or prevent these natural plants – and in so doing, deprive bees of one of their most important plants during springtime. Not to mention, those chemicals are hazardous for our pets.
Think I like butter?
By simply leaving the dandelions alone, you can help bees. Taking it one step further, if you avoid all chemical sprays and treatments (both weed-preventing and fertilizing) for your lawn and plants, you’ll be providing a safer environment as well.
Look – they’re beautiful
If you plant flowers in your garden, why not plant some that are favorites of bees? These days it’s easy to find out which plants are most attractive to bees – research online, check a gardening catalogue, or simply ask at your local garden center. By planting groupings of these flowering plants, along with sections of “natural” plantings, you’ll be providing the ideal nectar and pollen for our bee friends.
Somewhere, bees are crying…
Bees are more important to us than we give them credit for. So, leave the dandelion weeds in your lawn. Don’t worry about having a solid-green lawn with no colors to accent it, all blades protruding from the ground the exact same size and shape. These are free flowers! Mother Nature provides them, and for good reason. Now, more than ever before, bees are relying on us to do the right thing for them.
CindLu!! Don’t eat the dandelions!!
Hmmm interesting. Never would have thought something so simple would be so helpful. I live at a nursery, the family’s business, and we had a huge bee hive under one of our structures for 5+ years. Last year, they started stinging for no reason and one day attacked my father while he was mowing the field just like he always does. He ran really far away and they were still chasing and attacking him. Our thoughts were that they had hybridized and we had to get rid of them unfortunately ; ;
There’s not much that’s scarier than a bunch of bees chasing and stinging you! It sounds like you didn’t have a choice. When things go right, we can all peacefully coexist. But…when something’s off, well – you end up with problematic situations like yours. Hopefully that won’t ever happen again!