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Summertime, and the living is easy, the cicadas are buzzing, and the bees are - where?

The domestic bee population has been taking a beating these past several years. First bee mites, now colony collapse disorder: and suddenly in its threatened absence we are faced with the reality that we depend on bees for so much more than honey. Bees are the primary pollinators of most cultivated fruit trees and many vegetables and flowers. Without pollination, there can be no fruits, no seeds, no apple pie. This year more than ever, it is essential that we help bees, domestic and wild, whenever possible.

On average, native flowers such as daisies and black-eyed Susans more readily attract native bees; and native flowers have the added attraction of being much easier to care for than exotic imports, being adapted to the local environment. Thus they also require little or no pesticides, another bee-friendly feature. If you must use insecticides, look for bee-friendly brands, and apply them at dusk or later.

Bright colours and strong scents are especially desirable to bees. Colours toward the blue and violet end of the spectrum work best (coneflowers, lilacs, violets), but some orange and red flowers, such as poppies, have markings visible only in the ultraviolet, a part of the bee's visual spectrum. Avoiding perfumes and wearing bright colours while you are gardening will keep bees from thinking you are just another desirable flower.

A greater diversity of bee-friendly plants seems to attract proportionately more bees than monocultures, although most gardeners would draw the line at dandelions, another bee-friendly flower. Remember, however, that the difference between a weed and a garden flower lies in the eye of the beholder. A compromise here might be to behead dandelions before they go to seed. (Dandelion leaves also make an excellent salad and are very high in iron. The taste somewhat resembles radichio.) Another frequently overlooked avenue to enhancing your garden environment for bees is to include clover in your lawn - and clover, as a nitrogen-fixing legume, happens to be good for the lawn as well.

Nesting sites are just as important as flowers for bees. The majority of bee species are not social organisms but nest individually, seeking out bare ground and bare branches. Small exceptions to perfectly manicured lawns and garden patches will be welcomed.

However much we may want bees, most gardeners do want to avoid getting stung. The vast majority of bees in the northern hemisphere are not aggressive by nature, and thus co-existence between gardener and bee is usually an easy thing. If a bee does happen to land on you, don't wave your arms around, trying to Get It Off! Instead, just give it a bit of time and it will fly away on its own. If you want, you can even gently guide it to a flower. If you don't panic, you won't panic the bee.

Happy gardening!

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