I can’t deny it. My eyes are drawn to colorful bedding plants, like pansies and impatiens, that appear everywhere, starting in April. While these plants definitely add curb appeal, their benefits to pollinators, (particularly honeybees), are often overestimated.
Not all flowers are created equal and that’s why the Queen Bee is partnering with the Clark Botanic Garden Auxiliary to support their fall-planted bulb sale. Let me explain more about why the bees prefer spring-blooming pollinator bulbs that ‘magically’ pop-up in the springtime to the beautiful but bland bedding plants used for immediate springtime satisfaction.
The Reality of Beautiful Bedding Plants
Commonly sourced from nurseries and big box stores, bedding plants are usually grown in hothouses and genetically modified to enhance their visual appeal. This focus on appearance results in a significant compromise in regards to their nectar and pollen content. As far as honeybee nutrition goes, there’s no reason to use these plants in my garden. I want it to look good, but…
Bedding plants can be deceiving for early foraging honeybees seeking nourishment. They can fly up to 1 1/2 miles, but in the springtime, they’d especially prefer to find something closer to their hive; it’s risky to go far when the temperature changes. Can you imagine taking the risk, expending your energy to visit a driveway lined with pink and white impatiens, and then not getting a healthy food reward? Inefficient foraging trips has a negative impact on colony health, especially during critical periods of hive development or when natural forage is scarce.
If you truly want to support pollinator health, you need to integrate more naturally cultivated pollinator bulbs and other native plants into your garden beds. These plants are rich in nectar and pollen, contributing to honeybee’s nutrition and a more sustainable environment for all pollinators. Mixing bedding plants for aesthetic appeal and pollinator friendly bulbs, perennials and other native plants for ecological functionality is the best way to bee true to your garden.
The Importance of Supporting Early Season Pollinators
As winter gives way to the first signs of spring, early-season pollinators, like honeybees, emerge from their hives in search of nectar and pollen. During this crucial period, flowering trees aren’t in bloom, making it challenging for honeybees to rebuild their hive resources. Offering solutions to the early spring foraging dearth is imperative for maintaining healthy pollinator populations; early spring food sources significantly influence honeybee survival and reproductive success.
A very effective strategy to support early-season pollinators involves planting fall-planted bulbs, such as crocuses, alliums, and anemones. These bulbs are often missing in many homeowner landscapes. The bulbs need to be planted in the cool weather of fall to give their roots time to develop. Fall-planted bulbs produce vibrant blooms at a critical time for pollinators.
Crocus bulbs are among the first spring flowers, often pushing through the last remnants of winter snow. Their bright and accessible flowers offer an early source of nectar and pollen, available for pollinators as soon as temperatures begin to rise. Similarly, alliums, with their globe-shaped flower clusters, provide substantial amounts of nectar, supporting various pollinators through their profuse, tightly-packed florets. Anemones, too, make an invaluable addition to early spring gardens. Flowering at a time when few other plants do, their easy-access blooms cater directly to the needs of emerging pollinators.
Incorporating these fall-planted bulbs into your garden offers not only aesthetic appeal but also fulfills a crucial ecological role. Additionally these bulbs will return each year, so you only have to plan ahead once! Helping sustain early-season pollinators will not overrun your yard with with bees, but it will contribute to a healthier, more resilient environment and…bring you JOY!
Pollinator Bulb Boxes: A Sustainable Solution
Introducing diversity into your garden is vital for the health and well-being of pollinators. Pollinator bulb boxes offer an easy, sustainable way to enrich your garden while and provide crucial nutrients to meet the dietary needs of honeybees and other pollinators. A carefully curated mix of bulbs, these boxes are designed to support the early spring diet requirements of pollinating species. As these bulbs naturalize, they will return year after year without the need for replanting, thereby ensuring a long-term, sustainable gardening solution.
There are many bulbs that can be planted in the fall and they all have different bloom times. Early blooming flowers such as crocuses, grape hyacinths and baby daffodils are typically included in pollinator bulb boxes. These flowers are among the first to provide essential nectar and pollen, helping to support the nutrition and energy needs of pollinating insects as they become active in the spring. Ornamental alliums also need to be planted in the autumn, but they bloom a little later in the spring – they are gorgeous and pollinators and humans are amazed at the drama they add to a garden!
Pollinator bulbs offer more than just ecological benefits; they also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your garden. A diverse array of flowers, blooming at different times, adds layers of color and texture to your landscape, making it both functional and beautiful. A pollinator bulb box make it simpler for even beginner gardeners to implement pollinator-friendly practices.
Supporting Bees and a Cause
Purchasing fall-planted bulbs goes beyond simply enhancing the aesthetics of your garden; it plays a vital role in supporting both pollinators and valuable community organizations. Pollinator bulbs are specifically designed to cater to the nutritional needs of bees, supplying them with essential nutrients during blooming seasons. This not only bolsters bee health but also ensures a thriving ecosystem within your garden. By choosing to plant these bulbs, you are directly contributing to the survival and prosperity of bee populations, which are crucial for the pollination of many crops and subsequent food production.
The Backyard Bees Apiary at Clark Botanic Garden is one of our favorite apiaries. The Queen Bee offers a free monthly talk on the last Thursday of the month and there is always something bee-u-t-full to see there. The Garden is a free open space, but it can always use a little extra support. The Queen Bee is partnering with the Clark Botanic Garden Auxiliary to support their fall-planted bulb sale and, obviously, to help the honeybees!
100% of of the proceeds from the sale of a Pollinator Bulb Box aids in the continuation of the Clark Botanic Garden Auxiliary’s educational and conservation efforts. The box includes 5 different fall-planted bulbs that will be devoured by the sweet, and hungry, honey bees! You’ll get over 60 bulbs that make a fun family gardening project. Fall-planted bulbs are a satisfying experience to plant with your grandchildren or on your own!
A well-planned garden populated with early spring pollinator bulbs is a haven for bees and other beneficial insects. A garden created to support our ecosystem is not only pleasing to the eye but also serves an ecological purpose, promoting biodiversity and aiding in the natural pest control process.
In essence, choosing to plant pollinator bulbs signifies a thoughtful and impactful gardening choice. It supports ecological balance, contributes to bee conservation, and aids community initiatives. By making such choices, gardeners have the rare opportunity to enhance the beauty and functionality of their landscapes while simultaneously contributing to broader environmental and social causes. This approach highlights the power of individual actions in creating cumulative benefits for the environment and community.
