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doodle by andre: all hail the bees

IT’S THE BEST PART OF THE HIGH-SUMMER GARDEN: being surrounded by a frenzy of buzzing from bees and hummingbirds stocking up on resources before things wind down. Precious resources like bats and bees–both honeybees and even more recently bumblebees–are in sharp decline for various reasons, so I think our doodling friend Andre Jordan properly expresses the joy that the blooms, and gardeners, lucky enough to get their attention must feel.

  1. Ginger Goolsby says:

    I’ve planted more herbs and flowers with bees and hummingbirds in mind this year, and I’ve been rewarded with numerous visits by both. I think perhaps that I’ve seen more honey bees this year than I did in the past couple of years. Unfortunately my yard is an pesticid-free oasis surrounded by city yards groomed by those who want perfect yards at any cost!

  2. Lynda says:

    I just love Andre’s doodles…. they so crack me up ! I have lots of bees … the good guys and the ones that like to try and sting me. I just work around them. And the hummingbird…. I usually “hear” them before I see them. Their little wings sound like little motors. Summer is such a wonderful time !

  3. JOANNA SPAULDING says:

    SANA, SANA, CULITO DE RANA
    SI NO SANA HOY,
    SANARA, MANANA

    GET WELL, GET WELL, LITTLE FROGGIE BUTT
    IF NOT TODAY,
    SURELY, TOMORROW

    Since you like frogs so much (as do I) I thought you might appreciate this little Mexican song. J

  4. Terri H. says:

    Ginger, me too (maybe not 100%… I don’t think EVERYONE around me is using chemicals).

    I’ve seen bat houses and mason bee houses in the Gardener’s Supply catalog… I wonder if they’re worth the money?

  5. Smallpeace says:

    The steady and quite evident decline in our bat population has me biting my nails with worry. We are surrounded by precious wetlands and the bats have always been a welcome, necessary natural form of pest control. Not to mention, they are so incredible to watch in action! We’ve added bat houses to our property and wait and hope that the ugly/pretty little creatures will rally against this terrible white-nose fungus that’s been devastating their population.

  6. Sarah says:

    Terri, we bought a bat house three years ago and have yet to see a bat. Actually, we haven’t seen any bats since we moved. The city gets infested with salt water mosquitoes every year and believes in spraying heavily. I have wondered if the bats have been poisoned out.

  7. Sharon says:

    I had about five species of bees and wasps visiting my oregano blooms this year. It was absolutely amazing how much they loved this stuff!!

  8. Shirley says:

    Margaret Margaret!
    I hope you and your beautiful garden are OK!!!
    Been a while since you yankees had to deal with a hurricane.
    Hope you are safe and sound and that your garden can bounce back quickly!

  9. Broken Barn Industries says:

    I had tons of honeybees all over my butterfly weed this year- more than I’ve seen, literally, in years! A very good sign, I think. Plus my mister was able to get a beekeeper to come take a feral, healthy swarm from his workplace before the maintenance crews destroyed them. Hopeful signs.

  10. Rusty says:

    Margaret,

    Many of my readers are interested in planting to attract pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, and non-bee species. I have certain standard recommendations, including just about anything in the mint family, and flowers that have not been highly hybridized for color or variegation. (See http://www.honeybeesuite.com/fifteen-ways-to-attract-pollinators-to-your-yard/ for more.) I was wondering if you have favorites that I could add to my list–any species that seem especially attractive to pollinators, especially bees.

    Most of my readers are backyard beekeepers with only a hive or two. They love their bees with a passion and like to see them working the garden any chance they get. Others provide housing for mason bees, bumble bees, bats, and butterflies.

    Thank you in advance for any cool suggestions! Love your website.

    1. Margaret says:

      Thanks Rusty — and thanks for the list of tactics. I want to learn more (though my many stings all season long will testify to the fact that I am very attractive, apparently, whether for my garden plants or my ski, I do not know). Everyone here (paper wasps, ground-dwelling wasps, carpenter bees, yellow jackets, various other wasps and hornets, honeybees…) all are plentiful, thank heaven. I will be in touch!

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