We are coming to the turning of the seasons, the beginning of fall and the end of summer. As the summer comes to a close, temperatures are reaching their peaks and days with rainfall are few and far between. The nectar flow is low due to little rainfall, and it is advised that beekeepers stay out of the beehives. For beekeepers, this is a time when we allow the bees to rest. Rest you say? I thought bees constantly worked all the time. Recently, we have learned that this is not true. The age of the worker bee is moving out of the picture, and the dawning of the self care bee has begun. Some bees sleep more than other bees, from a thirty second nap nestled in a flower to sleeping in the hive for hours on end. Bees also help take care of one another as they sleep. Researchers have determined that when honey bees sleep, other bees will hold onto their legs to be sure that their sisters do not fall off the comb. Now that is a powerful lesson in supporting your community. What can the bees teach you about rest? How can you make space for yourself or your loved ones to get more rest?
Are you interested in helping out your local pollinators in this peak summer heat? Here are a few things you can do to support them in a time of need.
Provide sources of water in shaded areas. It is important to have a shallow bowl with rocks, marbles or sticks in the water for the bees to land on to prevent drowning. This will also keep the bees out of your neighbor’s swimming pool. Be sure to change the water often to prevent mosquito larva from developing.
Plant flowers or trees that bloom for long periods in the summer. Be sure that the flowers and trees you plant are native to your area. Some great long blooming flowers include coreopsis, black eyed susans, bee balm, purple coneflower and daylilies.
Provide areas in your yard that have standing grass, dead wood and bare soil for pollinator habitat.
Do not spray pesticides or herbicides. If you feel you must spray, be sure not to spray when the plant is flowering.
Stay cool and bee blessings to all!
Ali Pinion
Dreaming the Bee
Ali Pinion is a bee guardian in service to protecting pollinators and tending the homes of the 20+ bee colonies in her apiary in Northeastern Mississippi. She was drawn to working with the bees through her love of nature and decade working in the field of regenerative agriculture. Ali enjoys teaching others about the importance of pollinators, and how they facilitate a deeper connection to the natural world. Along with tending the homes of the bees, Ali also makes beeswax candles, harvests honey when it is plentiful, and makes medicine with the gifts from the hive. You can find out more about her apiary through her website dreamingthebee.com or her instagram DreamingtheBee.