Search...
Home Subscribe
Pie
Home Subscribe
Recent topics Flagged topics Hot topics Best topics
Search...
Search within honey bees Search permies
Advanced search Google search
Register / Login
native bee guide ebook benefits of pie Sepp Holzer 3 in 1 Documentaries raised beds and terraces Green Living Book Bootcamp
  • Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
Permaculture bootcamp with people wielding tools Free heat movie Full online Permaculture Design course video Clean with Cleaners You Can Eat - Free ebook list of PIE benefits here on permies
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • paul wheaton
  • John F Dean
  • r ransom
  • Jay Angler
stewards:
  • Timothy Norton
  • Tereza Okava
  • Pearl Sutton
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • M Ljin
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Megan Palmer
  • Thekla McDaniels

How to Attract Bees?

 
Anne Miller
steward
Posts: 19307
Location: USDA Zone 8a
4872
I like...
dog hunting food preservation cooking bee greening the desert
posted 3 weeks ago
  • Likes 7
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
How do we attract bees other than planting pretty flowers?

It seems this is the year without bees as we have only seen two near our wildlife water pan.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

 
Mike Barkley
gardener & hugelmaster
Posts: 3966
Location: Texas
2274
I like...
cattle hugelkultur cat dog trees hunting chicken bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 3 weeks ago
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Sprinkle a little lemongrass oil around. I've heard peppermint oil also works but have never tried it.

Argue for your limitations and they are yours forever.

 
Annie Collins
pollinator
Posts: 445
134
2
I like...
dog trees books bee medical herbs
posted 3 weeks ago
  • Likes 7
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
They love mountain mint plants! It's crazy! All the bumble bees, native bees, and honey bees, actually weigh the plants down so that they're bending over from all the weight of all the appreciative insects on them. And they're so easy to grow as well. Nothing fussy about them. You'd just need to see if you are in the right area for them, of course.
 
Joao Winckler
master pollinator
Posts: 342
Location: UK
118
I like...
kids urban seed
posted 3 weeks ago
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Leaving a patch of bare soil somewhere sunny helps a lot for ground-nesting bees, which is most native species actually. They don't want mulch or grass over their nesting spots. A shallow dish with pebbles and water gives them somewhere to drink without drowning too. Beyond flowers, those two things made the biggest difference for me.

Leaftide - garden planner w/ 876 plant types. Need permaculture testers for fruit trees & perennials. Free Pro month for detailed feedback, even just suggesting plants

 
Anne Miller
steward
Posts: 19307
Location: USDA Zone 8a
4872
I like...
dog hunting food preservation cooking bee greening the desert
posted 3 weeks ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Joao Winckler wrote:A shallow dish with pebbles and water gives them somewhere to drink without drowning too.



This is what I am thinking is the best approach since the like our wildlife water.

What about some sugar water?

We are going to town on Monday and I am hoping there are some transplants that I can buy that have yellow flowers, maybe cosmos though I have never seen those for sale here.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

 
Mike Barkley
gardener & hugelmaster
Posts: 3966
Location: Texas
2274
I like...
cattle hugelkultur cat dog trees hunting chicken bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 3 weeks ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
A class I took said blue flowers are their favorite.

A safe supply of water is good too. Sugar might be good too. That somewhat depends on if there is enough natural forage for them. In your area at this time of year I suspect sugar might be very welcomed by them.

Argue for your limitations and they are yours forever.

 
Missy Feathers
Posts: 4
posted 8 hours ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hollies and blueberry bushes are what I have  most of that attracts my honey bees.
 
No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. This time, do it with this tiny ad:
Contemplate spending the next 20 years building a better world in montana
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
Boost this thread!
Similar Threads
More...