Bees are a garden’s best friends. When a bee buzzes from flower to flower to gather food for its family, pollen dust catches a ride on the bee from one flower to another. When a bit of pollen lands on a flower’s stigma and moves down its pollen tube the flower gets ‘pollinated’, which means fruit and seeds can grow inside it. Without pollination there would be no fruit or seeds. Bees are some of the world’s best pollinators of fruit and vegetable plants. And bees need our help to survive.
You can grow flowers from seed, or get flowering plants from the garden centre.
Gardeners are a huge help to bees when we grow bee- friendly flowers. Plant your own bee garden at home or at school this spring see how many bees come to visit. PLUS you will be rewarded with beautiful colourful flowers. Flowers make everyone happy. It’s a win win situation!
Here are a few bee favourites to plant in your garden:
Cosmos, Calendula, Delphinium, Poppies, Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary, Echinacea, Roses, Apple blossom, Orange blossom, Manuka, Pohutukawa
Honey bee on apple flower
Cosmos