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.
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
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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!
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 !
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
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?
I love bees… I’m lucky I don’t seem to notice them dissapearing which is a good thing for me.
Hi, George. Yes, they are under terrible pressure, a real environmental disaster in the making.
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.
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.
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!!
Sarah, that’s sad!
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!
Love the sketch. I too am missing the bees. I need to plant more flowers to attract them to my strange little yard.
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.
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.
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!