Honey Bees & Herbs
Many people have small gardens or no garden at all. Herbs are the ideal solution for attracting honey bees whether you have a window box or a park.
It doesn’t matter how much space you have available, you can grow herbs. Herbs are a win, win for you and the bees. Let them flower and you still get herbs for cooking, the aromatics which are good for health as well as an army of bees harvesting pollen and nectar and pollen for their own use. You can plant them in the garden or even just a window box. They are the ultimate bee plant for people with little or no space.
Herbs can be a great source of food for our bees, especially during the “gap” months. Depending upon the area in which you live this will be sometime in late spring and early summer. Great “gap” fillers are:
Sage - especially the varieties such as Salvia Officinalis.
Thyme - this has the advantage of flowering over several weeks and bees find it irresistible.
Rosemary - this herb is often in flower when there is little else.
Herbs are also nature’s medicine cabinet and that’s as true for bees as it is for humans. It is known that bees perform zoopharmacognosy or self medication. Diseased or stressed bees will deliberately seek out specific herbs that contain a combination of antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic properties. They collect these volatile oils and store them in the wax and propolis. Thyme, mint and oregano are well known to help with things such as Nosema and Chalkbrood.
Other herbs which are good for your bees include:
Lavender
Borage
Lemon Balm
Hyssop
Remember that your herbs will only be good for your bees if you let them flower. This might mean that you get plants that go to seed or look a little “leggy” but that is a small price to pay for the pleasure of having them covered in bees.
Herbs are good for you, good for you cooking and good for your bees. Get planting and enjoy all the benefits.
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