Nature on our doorsteps: Bulbs for Bees

Now is the time to do something very easy to help our pollinating insects next springtime – plant some spring bulbs.

Honeybees make and store honey to help them through the winter.

If the hive has prepared well, this store will last well into springtime, at which time the honeybees will emerge from the hive and search out new sources of nectar.

If the winter is long and hard however, the honey may not last until springtime wildflowers come into bloom.

Bumblebees have even greater challenges. Only bumblebee queens overwinter, as the rest of the hive dies away after the new queens are mated.

Before finding a safe place to hibernate, these queens must feed well in order to survive winter.

Snowdrops are often the first of the spring bulbs to bloom

The first mild days of springtime stir the honeybees and the queen bumblebee to emerge and search for food.

If they cannot easily find nourishing nectar and pollen to restore them after the long winter, the bees’ vital energy has been wasted and they may die.

We can help by planting plenty of nectar-rich snowdrops, crocuses, and grape hyacinths (Muscari).

While we may like Daffodils, unfortunately these iconic springtime flowers do not offer much pollen or nectar.

Even a window box, a garden tub, or a hanging basket of mixed crocuses and snowdrops will be a very welcome pit-stop for springtime pollinators.