Help Bees Work Nature’s Magic in The Summer Sun
In July, we can finally unwind and do all we had planned to savour the summer season. We enjoy gardening, poolside play and socializing, picnics in parks and sports from running to racquets. And all that time a little creature is buzzing around us. In May, Team Moondust was inspired by World Bee Day. So, today we explore how much we depend on their work to help us enjoy our much-awaited summer leisure. Read on to learn about the good things they do, their season, bee-friendly plants that help them and even what to do if we get stung!
Bees are at risk of disappearing due to habitat loss, climate change, and other factors. Even as we lounge, they labour to create the beauty of our scenery, dotted with flowers or a bounty of fruits and foods we feast on due to their dedicated pollination. Let’s explore the world of bees around us!
The Magic of Bees Buzzing Around
Doesn’t the soft, steady buzz of a bee signal summer is near to you? We hear it as we tend to the garden, picnic under trees, or stroll past flower beds in bloom. That familiar hum means something beautiful is happening – pollination, the secret to our lush gardens, orchard harvests, and wildflower-filled parks.
They are responsible for pollinating over 75% of the crops that feed us — everything from apples to almonds, blueberries to broccoli. And yet, bee populations are declining at alarming rates, due to habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and disease.
Here’s the good news: there’s plenty we can do in our own gardens and balconies to help keep bees buzzing.
Planting for Pollinators
Do you have a backyard, balcony, or just a few pots by the window? You can make a difference. Bees love open-faced flowers with accessible pollen and nectar. Choose native plants when possible and stagger your blooms, so something is flowering from early spring to fall.
Some bee-friendly favourites include:
- Lavender
- Echinacea (coneflower)
- Bee balm
- Sunflowers
- Borage
- Thyme, rosemary & mint (great for both cooking and pollinators!)
Bees love a good buffet, so plant in clumps rather than single plants if space allows. Skip the pesticides,
especially neonicotinoids and glyphosate, which are harmful to bees. Dr. Moondust highlights the fatal effects of glyphosate-mediated apoptosis on bee larvae in her chapter in “Natural Resource Management: Ecological Perspectives 2019” available on our website. Join us in creating a haven for bees and help support their vital role in our ecosystems!
A Bee’s Season of Service
Bees are most active from early spring through late fall, depending on your climate. During this time, queen bees emerge, colonies grow, and the pollination frenzy begins. You’ll see honeybees, bumblebees, and even solitary native bees hard at work, transferring pollen and keeping our ecosystems thriving.
Even weeds like dandelions and clover are an important early food source — consider letting a few bloom before mowing.
What If You Get Stung?
Bee stings are rare if you leave them alone. But if it happens, here’s what to do:
- Remove the stinger gently by scraping with a credit card (not tweezers, which can squeeze more venom in).
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Use antihistamines or hydrocortisone cream for itching.
Important note from Dr. Moondust: If you know you’re allergic, always carry an Epi Pen, epinephrine injector and seek emergency care if stung.
The Bigger Picture
When bees disappear, so does much of our food and natural beauty. Supporting bees is more than honey — it’s about preserving biodiversity and ensuring a healthy planet for future generations.
**An interesting fact is that one of the Moondust Team (Dr. AS Atwal) is considered the father of beekeeping in India for writing popular manuals on the subject for farmers and fostering bee research there!
So, this season, take a moment to pause when you hear that gentle hum in the garden. Smile at the sight of a bee darting from bloom to bloom. And if you can, plant something beautiful in their honour.
Worker bees continue attending to their important duties while you relax and enjoy the flowers, food and scenery they create. We need the bees — and right now, they need us, too.
Join us in creating a haven for bees and help support their vital role in our ecosystems!
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