Bee a Friend

The honeybee thanks you for your support!

I love honey, bee propolis and beeswax candles.  I use honey not only in my teas, but also in some of cream and body products.  One of my favorite emulsions includes olive oil and honey, and of course, I love the glow and aroma from a natural beeswax candle.  You can make very simple beeswax candles by rolling beeswax sheets.  I also got these great glass flower pots from world market that I have poured some beeswax into for a cute little all natural beeswax candle. 

Since I am a fan of so many bee-related products, i want to do my part to support our dear little honey bee friends.  Spring is here, and bees are leaving their hives to begin foraging again.  When bees visit your plant, they are looking for mainly nectar and pollen:

1. Nectar - nectar is loaded with sugars and it’s a bee’s main source of energy.
2. Pollen - pollen provides the balanced diet of proteins and fats

By growing plants rich in nectar and pollen, we help our honey bee population by providing them food and energy they require to sustain themselves.  Also remember to use natural pesticides and fertilizers - lady bugs, praying mantises and spiders are great options for keeping pests away.  Herbicides contaminate bee’s water sources and pesticides can be fatal. So if you must spray, please take care to spray well away from the bee’s food and water sources.

You can bolster our shrinking bee population by including these nectar and pollen-producing plants in your garden or back yard.  Try to grow plants that are native to your area as native honey bees like native plants.  Here's a starter list, and you can click here for more details.  If you'd like to see even more plants than what is listed below, a more comprehensive plant list is available.

• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• White Clover
• Sage
• Mint
• Deciduous Fruit Trees
• Cabbage
• Dill
• Dandelions
• Basil Ocimum
• Cotoneaster Cotoneaster
• English lavender Lavandula
• Giant hyssop Agastache
• Globe thistle Echinops
• Hyssop Hyssopus
• Marjoram Origanum
• Rosemary Rosmarinus
• Wallflower Erysimum
• Zinnia Zinnia