“Bee” the Change.
Real estate developers and municipal governments have uniquely powerful abilities to help support wild bees within urban environments. Through thoughtful design, planning, and land management they can allocate urban “green spaces” including parks, gardens, green roofs, or even wood or concrete planters that can be filled with native plants and wildflowers to provide vital habitats and food sources for local wild bees. Including these habitats into development projects can play a pivotal role in preserving and fostering wild bee populations and contribute to biodiversity and sustainability of urban ecosystems.
Homegrown Heroes
Wild bees and native plants evolved together, and their relationship goes back more than 100 million years! Native plants and wildflowers provide high-quality nectar and pollen sources, as well as suitable nesting sites and materials that are crucial for each bee colony’s survival. In contrast, “ornamental” flowers that are planted for their aesthetic values alone often don’t provide the resources that bees or other pollinators need. By prioritizing native plants in urban landscapes, we can create habitats that sustain diverse bee populations, promote biodiversity, and enhance resilience against environmental challenges like climate change and habitat loss.
Sustainable Success.
Incorporating native habitats into development projects provides tangible benefits to the people who plant them, as well. Gardens featuring native plants and wildflowers can enhance property values by creating attractive, biodiverse features that are harmonious with the natural landscape, improving quality of life for residents. Native habitats can also reduce landscaping costs, as native plantings are often better adapted to local weather and soil conditions and require less watering and maintenance. Plus, investing in native habitats demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability, which can enhance the reputation of the community, the developer, and the local government.
Small Gardens, Big Impact.
Even a small garden space, of a few square metres, can make a meaningful contribution to supporting wild bees. A small section of a larger garden, border areas, or even a few non-fixed planters filled with a variety of native flowering plants can provide nectar, pollen, and nesting sites for wild bees. While larger gardens can potentially support more diverse bee populations, even small patches of native wildflowers and plants can play a vital role in providing valuable habitat and resources for local wild bees, and act as “stepping stones” between larger green spaces across an entire community.
How Your Garden Grows.
When planning a garden to support wild bees, choose native wildflowers that bloom at different times of the year, providing a continuous food source and essential nesting habitats. Also consider factors such as sunlight exposure, soil type, and moisture levels to ensure the selected plants thrive in their environment. Working with a local nursery, garden centre, or gardener experienced with native plants in your area can help ensure success.
Backyard Bounty.
Native plants are easy to source, and there are many species in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland that can help support wild bees and other pollinators, including: Broad-Leaved Stonecrop, Douglas Aster, Indian-Plum, Nootka Rose, Ocean Spray, Oregon Grape, Pacific Bleeding Heart, Pacific Ninebark, Red Columbine, Salmonberry, Vine Maple, and Wood Sorrel.
Seed blends may be found at local gardening stores including wildflower species specially selected to support bees and pollinators, including Chinese Forget-Me-Not, Siberian Wallflower, California Poppy, Purple Coneflower, China Aster, Corn Poppy, Lance-Leaf Coreopsis, Blue Flax, Baby Blue-Eyes, Globe Gilia, Indian Blanket, Tidy Tips, Plains Coreopsis, Sweet Alyssum, Lavender Hyssop, Fleabane Daisy, New England Aster, and Bergamot.
Veeswax would be happy to work with your organization to research and suggest species of bee-friendly plants ideal for your project!