https://vimeo.com/video/365443685

Turn up the volume of this video – can you hear that noise? – it is the joy of BUZZING BEES in the Backyard Habitat.

As pollinators, Bees are such an essential part of our ecosystem. Bees help plants grow into a food source for us an many other organisms. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bees - along with butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, moths, and other pollinators – help pollinate over 75% of our flowering plants and crops. Without Bees and other pollinators, there would be no almonds, apples, blueberries, cherries, squash, chocolate, coffee, and so many other fruits and vegetables. Albert Einstein once said:

We need Bees – our lives depend on their continued livelihood. It is being continuously reported that our bees are in trouble. Their decline is primarily due to pesticides and Habitat loss, a topic addressed on my Calls Fur Action page.

It is so important that we, as stewards of nature, help the Bees survive and thrive. In my habitat, we planted flowers and bushes that provide bees with the nourishment they need. Our yard also offers them protection with plenty of trees and bushes for cover and no pesticides.

Here are some of the plants found in our Backyard Habitat:

Bee Brush

Cape Honeysuckle

Desert Hackberry

Desert Marigold

Golden Eye

Lantana

Orange Bells

Rosemary

Yellow Bells

Because Bees get thirsty too, especially in Arizona, we have created a special pond – a pan of water with a ramp (so they do not drown, should they fall in). Interesting to note that the Bees recognize this as their special pond and tend to stay away from the birdbaths.

Based on our observation, Bees like many of the creatures we encounter in our habitat, are gentle souls. In Arizona, we do have to be mindful of the Africanized Bees (or Killers Bees) because they can be easily provoked and may attack in swarms. Also, if Bees should build a nest close to your home, it may be necessary to relocate (NOT KILL) them. We have found that most Bees are not aggressive or problematic and peacefully co-exist in our yard. We welcome Bees and other pollinators to our Backyard Habitat and hope you will too!

On the back of my Mom’s car, she has a bumper sticker that reads: Bee Kind to Bees. Any extra kindness that you may offer our pollinators will be most appreciated and make you the Bees Knees (1920’s phrase meaning EXCELLENT).