Gardening

beac

(9,992 posts) Wed Jun 20, 2012, 08:42 AM Jun 2012

Save the Bees!

Fellow DU gardeners,

Please do take a minute to add your name to help save our little partners in the garden. What would we do without bees?

In the next week, the EPA is expected to issue a decision on the pesticide Clothianidin -- which scientists believe is a major factor in the alarming decline in U.S honey bee populations, known as Colony Collapse Disorder.

Since 2006, one third of U.S honey bee populations have been dying off. One third. Every year. That's a terrible rate of species destruction on its own, but it's also a serious threat to our food supply. Honey bees play a crucial role by pollinating 71 of the 100 most common crops, which account for 90% of the world's food supply.

The EPA will be issuing a decision soon. If the agency doesn't act, it won't review Clothianidin again until 2018 -- and by then it could be too late for the bees.

I just signed a petition to the EPA, and I thought you would want to add your name, too.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/bee_decision/?r_by=42082-68532-vorpBjx&rc=paste2

Thanks,
beac

19 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Save the Bees! (Original Post) beac Jun 2012 OP

Done even though about 50,000 of the little guys caused $400 in damage to sinkingfeeling Jun 2012 #1

Much appreciated. beac Jun 2012 #2

Done! dgibby Jun 2012 #3

I just got some lambs ear from a friend's garden. beac Jun 2012 #4

Leeks. When leeks bloom, it's like bee crack. Denninmi Jun 2012 #5

I have onions that are attractive to bees too. Curmudgeoness Jun 2012 #9

I have some! (leeks going to seed) NJCher Jun 2012 #11

Done. Denninmi Jun 2012 #6

Thanks, Denn! beac Jun 2012 #7

Signed. jp11 Jun 2012 #8

Thanks! beac Jun 2012 #10

Done. I keep bees and have been following this issue very closely. Javaman Jun 2012 #12

Thanks. And hurrah for beekeeping! beac Jun 2012 #13

I signed Worried senior Jun 2012 #14

They really are fascinating to watch up close. beac Jun 2012 #15

Done kjackson227 Jun 2012 #16

Thanks! beac Jun 2012 #17

K&R&S Sentath Jun 2012 #18

T&B! beac Jun 2012 #19

sinkingfeeling

(52,967 posts)

1. Done even though about 50,000 of the little guys caused $400 in damage to

Reply to beac (Original post)

Wed Jun 20, 2012, 08:56 AM

Jun 2012

my porch a couple of years ago.

beac

(9,992 posts)

2. Much appreciated.

Reply to sinkingfeeling (Reply #1)

Wed Jun 20, 2012, 09:03 AM

Jun 2012

I know they can sometimes choose unfortunate places to hive.

Thanks for being a forgiving homeowner!

dgibby

(9,474 posts)

3. Done!

Reply to beac (Original post)

Wed Jun 20, 2012, 11:51 AM

Jun 2012

Speaking of bees, I have planted many flowers that are attractive to pollenators, including bee balm; however, when it comes to bees, the Lamb's Ears wins by a mile. Mine are covered in bees and have been for about 2 months now. The only other things I've seen bees swarm to like that are Purple Leafed Plums and Crabapples. Amazing!

beac

(9,992 posts)

4. I just got some lambs ear from a friend's garden.

Reply to dgibby (Reply #3)

Wed Jun 20, 2012, 12:09 PM

Jun 2012

Glad to know it will help keep my own local hive humming happily!

Denninmi

(6,581 posts)

5. Leeks. When leeks bloom, it's like bee crack.

Reply to dgibby (Reply #3)

Wed Jun 20, 2012, 02:06 PM

Jun 2012

Get some leeks and let them bloom. They will be crawling with bees from dawn to dusk.

Something else that really attracts bees are the blossoms on American persimmon trees. When my trees are in bloom, I can hear the hum/buzz of bees from about 30/40 feet away. It's quite amazing.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)

9. I have onions that are attractive to bees too.

Reply to Denninmi (Reply #5)

Wed Jun 20, 2012, 05:17 PM

Jun 2012

I suppose that anything in that family works. I can't believe that I have to get excited when I see honeybees these days!

On a more sobering note, I remember when I was young, the white clover growing in the grass always was covered in bees. If I was running around barefoot, I always had to avoid those patches of clover. I still have white clover all over the yard, but I see few bees on it. Sad and scary.