Our choice for the Garden Critter study this month is the honeybee. We have been building a bee, butterfly, and bird habitat in our yard this year and it seemed fitting that we take a few minutes to read in the Handbook of Nature Study (Lesson 99) about this welcome guest to our garden.
We have planted many bee attractive plants and every day, rain or shine, they come to visit. Their favorite spot in the yard is the center square filled with lavender. If you sit close by, you can hear the buzzing of wings and you can watch their activity among the flowers.
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| Water for the Bees – Lavender and Baby Lemon Queen Sunflowers |
We read recently online that bees need water as part of their habitat. We found a shallow pie pan, filled it with an assortment of local rocks we had on hand, and then filled it with water. The rain has kept it filled but now that the weather is looking like it will remain dry, I will just replenish the water when I water the garden. Here is a really informative article about Planting a Bee Garden.
We found this webpage very helpful: California Habitat Gardening and this one too: Bee Friendly Gardens.
This is what we are aiming for…image from two summers ago in our sunflowers. Can you believe that pollen?
We will be taking part in the Great Sunflower Project later in the summer. I highly recommend this nature activity which is fun and simple to do as a family. Click below for more information.
Don’t forget to post and then submit your June Newsletter nature studies to the Outdoor Hour Challenge Blog Carnival. Here is THE LINK. If you need to find the link quickly, it is at the top of my blog in a couple of places for easy access.
Jami’s Tuesday Garden Party meme is open from Tuesday to Thursday so there is still time for you to jump in and participate!
Wonderful post! Enjoyed seeing the gorgeous photos – especially of the lavender and of the close-up of the bee. I like the idea of putting a shallow pan with rocks in the garden for the bees. I’m going to check out the links you posted. They sound interesting!
Thank you for posting the info on the Great Sunflower project! I’m going to check it out a bit more, but I think my boys an I will participate. Sunflowers are so fun to grow!
Your garden habitat for the bees is lovely. I especially love the pie pan with the water, and those pretty rocks!
I never thought about setting out water for our bees – thanks for the tip!
well, my girls won’t be happy that I am intentionally inviting bees to our yard, but we will be particiapting in the Sunflower project. Thanks for the info
I love everything about this post! Off to make a bee bath :}