Gardening is an enjoyable hobby that can also support your local ecosystem. If your plants feed nearby bees, they’ll ensure all surrounding flora thrive. Transform your backyard into a bumblebee haven by learning how to create a bee sanctuary. You can easily customize it to your gardening interests and budget, so helping the bees doesn’t require an extensive adjustment period.
What Is a Bee Sanctuary?
Bee sanctuaries are spaces where bees can easily find food, shelter, and water. They’re more important now than ever. The United States had 5 million bee colonies in the 1940s, but experts estimate that colony numbers are down to approximately 2.66 million today. Without as many bees, plants can’t contribute to both the environment and the food chain.
Struggling to find food, water and a safe place to rest happens to bees for many reasons. People are expanding into woodlands to find space for new construction, which removes biomes. The widespread use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides also prevents bees from having as much space to roam. Although those factors are extensive, you can help without leaving your backyard.
When Should You Make a Bee Habitat?
Starting a bee sanctuary in your garden could strengthen your local environment. Pollinators will have a safe place to rest, eat, and hydrate before continuing their work within nearby greenery. Your garden will also get more attention from pollinators, ensuring it receives enough new pollen to grow. If you feel concerned about the planet or the fate of local bee colonies, a homemade habitat may even bring you more peace of mind.
Pollinator Plants for Your Garden
Finding the right flora for your bee sanctuary is crucial. Make your pollinator habitat succeed by choosing plants that bees need to do their job.
1. Marigolds
Bees love marigolds because they have a strong scent and open flower faces. Insects can easily access the pollen within each tiny bud. Your local bees won’t have to work as hard to cover themselves in new pollen and get a snack.
2. Sunflowers
Consider the expansive center of a sunflower that eventually produces delicious seeds. Each center is big enough for multiple bees to gather and work simultaneously. You’ll add big flowers that produce plenty of nectar, making your backyard a popular place for pollinators.
3. Milkweed
Milkweed can do more than fill your garden with little purple flowers. The plant also feeds bees. Plant a few milkweed sprouts in your backyard to start your bee sanctuary. As they grow, pollinators will find the tiny blooms and drink from the individual cups of nectar within them.
4. Basil
People often picture bee habitats filled with flowers, but those aren’t your only options. You can also grow basil to support pollinators. The herb forms small white flowers that feed bees while they bloom in mid-summer. After the flowers fade, add it to delicious recipes to get a boost of vitamin A and iron, like homemade pesto sauce or baked lemon chicken.
5. Cosmos
Cosmos are another openfaced flower that has easy-to-reach nectar. Each bloom’s wide leaves also provide ample space for bees to sit while they eat. Add a few bunches to your garden in different hues to fill your yard with bursts of color that also support the local environment.
6. Parsley
A bee habitat full of parsley can attract plenty of pollinators. They love the scent of parsley flowers and its expansive ground cover. Bees won’t have to worry about ants or mites attacking them because parsley forms a barrier between the soil and pollinators.
Enjoying your harvest may even reduce your risk of skin cancer with its naturally occurring myricetin, so it’s a helpful plant for everyone interacting with your sanctuary.
Other Resources Bees Need
While you’re deciding what to grow in your pollinator habitat, remember that bees require more than nectar. You should also add a few other resources to ensure their well-being.
A Safe Water Source
Bees drink water like most living things. They’ll need to hydrate while they work, so give your local colonies a small shallow dish full of rocks or marbles. If you fill the pan with water and leave room for the bees to stand on the rounded surface, you’ll prevent them from drowning. Remember to replace the water frequently so mosquitoes don’t lay eggs in your bees’ dish.
Reliable Shelter
If you want pollinators to stay longer than a quick visit, you can add a bee house or hut to your garden. They’ll use the space to shelter from wind, rain, and predators. Keep the structure close to your bee-friendly plants so they don’t have to travel far for a snack.
Chemical-Free Food
Pesticide exposure prevents bees from growing healthy larvae and even fighting viruses. Try to avoid adding chemical products to your bee sanctuary or the garden surrounding it. Organic alternatives are readily available so your plants get the support they need without risking the well-being of your local pollinators.
Cultivate a Backyard Bee Sanctuary
Once you learn how to create a bee sanctuary, your backyard will become the most popular pollinator haven in town. Add flora that provides nectar, build a shelter, and maintain a water source to create an instant safe space for bees. If you keep chemicals away from their food, nearby bee colonies will make your property a preferred place to spend their time.
Mia Barnes is a health and lifestyle writer with a passion for sustainable wellness and eco-friendly living. Mia is the Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind magazine with over 5 years of experience in freelance writing.
Image by Ralph
