The Buzz on Bees  

Did you ever stand still in your garden and simply watch the movement? Bees and butterflies flitting from flower to flower are busy pollinating plants that will aid in the production of fruits and vegetables.

We rely greatly on these little creatures - more than we are aware. However, over the last few years, there has been cause for concern as the honeybee has been disappearing at an alarming rate due to Colony Collapse Disorder. Much research has been done attempting to find the cause as well as solutions. As studies continue to be done, there is a simple way you can help  - plant flowers. (Just for fun, listen to "Honeybee" by Zee Avi here while you read on). 

Bee-friendly flowers produce nectar that keeps the bees alive and pollen that helps fruits and vegetables to grow. Sunflowers, daisies, cosmos, zinnias, asters, marigolds, hollyhocks, and geraniums are a few on the list (scroll down to page 16) as well as native plants. Certain colors attract honeybees - blue, purple, orange and yellow. Keep this in mind as you make your selections.      

Some interesting facts about honeybees:

     * They are responsible for pollinating 1/3 of our natural foods

     * Honeybees are not native, early settlers brought them
 from Europe in the 1600's. 

     * Honeybees are not aggressive and will not sting unless provoked.

     * One honeybee will produce about 1/12 teaspoon of honey in it's lifetime. 

      * Studies show that eating local honey can help fend off allergies.   

This Saturday (August 20) is National Honeybee Day. To celebrate, local beekeepers, Brian Sekey and Dick Miller, will have their honey for sale here at BGC this Saturday and Sunday. They also sell their honey at the Burlington Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons.  This is the 'greenest' sweetener you can buy.   

Also, we will have LuAnn Himebauch's delicious honey butter also available to sample and purchase. This weekend only - don't miss it! LuAnn is from East Troy and is also at the Burlington Farmer's Market.    

Buying local honey has health benefits including help with allergies. You may not realize the hidden dangers of some imported honey, most of which comes from China. Read about how many beekeepers in China keep their bees healthy with antibiotics that are banned here. Become a locavore  - help the environment, our farmers, and the honeybees.        

Mason Bees - Our Native Pollinators

As the honeybee populations continue to decline, our native bees are stepping up and actually are more productive.  

The mason bee, which is native to Wisconsin, is a gentle, non-aggressive bee. They are most active in the spring when the apple and cherry trees are in bloom making them important pollinators in many orchards.  

Mason bees like to nest in small narrow holes, cavities, or tubes like our nest kits (see photo). The bees emerge in the spring - the male first who waits for the female. Once she appears, they mate and he dies (talk about a short life with only one purpose!). She flies off to find a nest, begins to lay eggs and gather pollen. She lays one egg in a tube, fills it with nutrients (the pollen), then plugs it up with mud. After about a month of doing this (laying 1-2 eggs/day), she dies as well. The eggs mature all summer, through the winter, then in the spring it starts all over again.  

What is the benefit of mason bees?  

     * Because of the way they gather pollen, they can carry more pollen than a honeybee can.  

     * It takes 2 or 3 mason bees to pollinate one mature fruit tree.       * They are not susceptible to the mites that are known to destroy a honeybee hive.  

Both the honeybee, the mason bee, and other pollinators are vital to our own food production. Please be aware that insecticides can kill these bees. Use all insecticides with great caution and only when absolutely necessary.  

So, bee smart, bee aware, bee active, and bee here this weekend for some great honey!