Many people are aware of honey bee colony collapse disorder but most of us are not very tuned into the variety of native bees who also pollinate approximately one third of our food crops. There are approximately 4oo species of native bees in New England, among 4,000 in the continental U.S., 90% of which lay their eggs, pupate and overwinter in the ground. The rest of our native bees nest above the ground in pithy stemmed shrubs such as elderberry, stag-horn sumac and raspberry canes, or in holes made by beetles in the trunks and branches of trees.
Since the native bees do so much and live so close to us, in the ground and under rocks or in woody materials, we might think proactively about how to manage our landscapes with them in mind.
We can help these immensely important insects by first creating pollinator-positive flower garden and farm edge environments. Connecting your pollinator-friendly habitats with those of our neighbors is what our Yard-by-Yard Campaign is all about.
Tom Sullivan
Native bees feed their offspring nectar and pollen. By judicious planting we can make a floral paradise for bees and all our insect friends. We can also provide areas for native bees to raise their young by choosing prime sites or creating the conditions for them to lay their eggs and overwinter.
We can also help you create ecologically-oriented edible landscapes to eat from throughout your growing season. Combining food production with pollinator habitat is critical for our crop pollination, food security and the survival of so many insects that are on the lower levels of the food chain.
Tom Sullivan (413) 325-1769
sullivan08@csld.edu
Pollinators Welcome
Consult – Design – Install