Did you know that there are more than 20,000 species of pollen bees worldwide, and that 3,500 call North America home? Though this number may seem substantial, there has been a severe reduction in the bee population, and both the honey bee and the solitary pollen bee have been affected. As 60% of our food requires pollination, this is of concern to us all. With beekeeping being … [Read more...] about 6 tips for pollen bee nests in your garden
bees
Pollinator report: Dragonflies, damselflies and bees
It has been an interesting season for insects, with visits from species I’ve never seen in this garden. I expect the changing climate patterns have created favourable conditions for some of these new visitors. I’ve enjoyed a mated pair of ebony jewelwings (Calopteryx maculata), broad-winged damselflies that resemble dragonflies. The male grows two inches (5 cm) long and makes a … [Read more...] about Pollinator report: Dragonflies, damselflies and bees
Urban buzz: The Toronto Botanical Garden is the place to grow
It’s a farmers’ market, a music festival, a beekeeper’s mecca and a kids’ camp — but most of all, the Toronto Botanical Garden is a city-sized garden blossoming with ideas and inspiration for anyone who wants to get down and dirty, and up close and horticultural. Located adjacent to Edwards Gardens, one of the city’s most popular parks, the Toronto Botanical Garden boasts 17 … [Read more...] about Urban buzz: The Toronto Botanical Garden is the place to grow
Seeking enthusiastic pollinators
Warm, bright days burst open tree and shrub buds, and bring out flowers on many of the spring bulbs. And with the flowers have come clouds of pollinators — bees of several kinds, small and large wasps, various flies and even some butterflies. A lovely mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) was seen floating through the garden, coming to land on the deck in a patch of morning … [Read more...] about Seeking enthusiastic pollinators
Keeping garden bees
My interest in bees began about 10 years ago, when I happened to see a swarm of wild honeybees in migration. They were hanging in a tight oval-shaped ball from a low tree limb, and at first I was unsure what this could be. Soon enough, I saw the ball was full of movement with thousands of tiny wings all a-flutter, enclosing the female queen at the centre. In the 19th … [Read more...] about Keeping garden bees
