Learn more about pollinators, how to attract them into your garden, and reflect on what can be done to protect them and the work they do in our ecosystems. Of course it’s a subject always of interest, but June 17-23, 2019 is National Pollinator Week, designated by the U.S. Senate as a celebration of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, bats, and more. Here are some books and resources on bees and other pollinators.
Our Native Bees: North America’s Endangered Pollinators and the Fight to Save Them by Paige Embry
Organized by bee, Embry provides an overview of the various native bee species in the U.S, covering the nesting, foraging and mating habits of each bee. Embry visits the owners of almond groves, cherry orchards, blueberry fields and more to better understand different bees. Written in a chatty, folksy tone with many high-quality photos, this is a lovely book to dip in and out of.
Buzz: The Nature and Necessity of Bees
by Thor Hanson
Providing a more comprehensive history of bees, including both honeybees and wild bees, Hanson describes what is known about bee evolution; their role in human evolution; and human fascination with bees, from hunter-gatherer groups to Shakespeare. Taking it up to the modern day, Hanson details bee population decline, Colony Collapse Disorder, and ways that farmers and home gardeners can support bee populations.
The Secret Lives of Bats
by Merlin Tuttle
Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International, has spent a lifetime studying bats across the world. From their significant role in pest control (able to catch thousands of insects in one hour), as pollinators and as dispersers of seeds, Tuttle describes the roles bats play in human economies such as agriculture, and across ecosystems. He also delves into their sophisticated hunting practices, community living, and complex social relationships.
100 Plants to Feed the Bees
Experts offer their favorite 100 plants that support bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. Organized by type, flowers, herbs, shrubs and trees are listed with information on growing zones, bloom times, types of pollinators attracted, and other plant requirements. The format of this book is highly visual with large, full-color images and minimal text, enough to get you interested and started.
Pollinator Friendly Gardening
by Rhonda Fleming Hayes
This informative guide identifies pollinators from bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to ants, wasps and beetles and then suggests plants, ways to enhance habitats, nesting site creation, and methods for providing water to give pollinators their best chance in the garden. This book is a bit more text heavy, and includes lists of tips and interviews with expert gardeners.
Storey’s Guide to Keeping Honey Bees
by Malcolm Sanford
If you’re ready to jump all the way in and become a beekeeper, this handbook covers everything from planning hives and installing a colony to preventing disease and managing hives.
Discover more about Pollinator Week at Pollinator Partnership.
~ posted by Andrea G.
The first Spring in our new house was spent figuring out where we wanted things and tackling the things we didn’t – I battled sticker bushes and morning glory, we moved garden beds, and got a patio poured. This year all that hard work started coming together. I planted vegetables, we got patio furniture, and got some flower beds organized – but like all good library nerds I had to do research first.
I’ve always wanted my yard to be habitat friendly so when I weeded I didn’t just take out everything that’s considered a weed. I kept clover and bachelor’s button despite their bad reputation. I also let things happen naturally with random plants that popped up on their own like lupine, hyacinths, daffodils, and a calla lilly! We added lavender, rosemary, borage, and mint for bees. I also, made little rain gardens and added bird feeders and from last year we have foxgloves and crocosmia for the hummingbirds.