Bees and pollinators are an incredibly important part of our ecosystem. Unfortunately a number of factors world wide have caused population decline and people all across the globe are pitching in to save the bees!

There are so many things that we as individuals can do to help.

1. Reduce or eliminate pesticide use. Don’t just reach for the spay at the first sign of problems there are often safer kinder options. Many plants can survive a few chewed leaves, it may not look pretty but you may then be rewarded with beautiful butterflies and beneficial insects.
2. Another way we can help the bees and all their pollinator friends is to provide them with plant diversity. Diversity in diet is integral to colony health. Every single garden big or small with a variety of flowering plants is beneficial.

• Having a range of plants flowering throughout the year not only adds interest to the garden but will benefit pollinators. Spring is abundant with flowers but other times of the year food can be harder to find.
• When planning a new garden or just improving an existing one take a wide range of plants into consideration. Think flowering trees, shrubs, ground covers, herbs and veggies and don’t forget succulents. Indigenous and native plants and fantastic but exotic plants have value also. Let some of your herbs and veggies go to seed. Don’t be afraid to try new plants. Don’t be trapped into the idea of too much mass planting although it can look fantastic, sometimes the same effect can be created by grouping a flower of foliage colour.
• Some plants are fantastic for bees, including:  borage, red box Eucalyptus polyanthemos, Grevillia, Tea tree Leptospermum, Prostanthera, Mint, Parsley, Salvia, fruit trees, Cosmos, Poppies, Sedum, Roses, the list goes on and on. All these are great and well worth growing but don’t forget this is just a tiny glimpse of what you could grow.