Provide pithy and hollow-stem nesting for native bees. Tunnel-nesting bees are great pollinators of early-blooming fruits and will lay their eggs in hollow tubes such as bamboo, paper tubes and drilled holes, and the pithy stems of staghorn sumac, raspberry and elderberry. Reduce lawn area and plant wildflowers instead. Reducing lawns by planting a native
A recent PW-sponsored survey looked for regional, state and local nurseries whose materials are truly bee safe. These nurseries do not use neonicitinoids in their soils or potting mixes. Thus far, our preliminary results found the following nine nurseries who we consider Bee-Safe: That’s A Plenty Farm 76 Honey Pot Rd. Hadley, MA 01035 413-320-5953
5 Questions to ask Plant Purveyors to see if they are truly selling “Bee-Friendly Plants” We want them to learn what is in their potting soil:s first, so we can discover if neonicotinoids are in the soils of plants being sold as “bee-friendly”, secondly, we want to see what other systemic pesticides they might be
Our main objective is to increase pollinator habitat by enhancing, protecting and creating new habitats for the 400 species of native bees in New England. Yes bees, because they are the most efficient pollinators. The 2006 status report by the National Academy of Science is a wake up call. This report points to the need