Bees! They need a little help too.

With all these crazy winter storms coming through all of a sudden (which is almost unheard of in the southern Carolinas, trust me), a warm cozy home is top priority on everyone’s list. Right? That doesn’t just apply to us homo sapiens that seem to need fuzzy socks and pumpkin spice lattes to survive – no shade… pumpkin spice lattes are my staple every fall.

Cute little critters and crawlies are also in need of a nice cozy safe space to retreat to when the bitter frosts become too abrasive on their paper-thin wings. Take bees for example.

What are your thoughts on bees? Are you afraid of them? Disgusted by them? Indifferent to them? Think they are the cutest fluffy butts ever? Well, no matter how you interpret their existence, there is no denying that they are extremely beneficial to our planet… and are just tiny little “helpless to the elements” creatures who need an extra hand sometimes.

I want to share a few tips and tricks to help these humble creatures that may hopefully soften your view and motivate you to be their ally, even if you’ve been stung a time or two. I know it’s not fun for the victim (you of course), but don’t you think you’d find the easiest way to protect yourself against a giant too? That’s what I thought. Anywho, how can you help?? I am SO GLAD you asked. Let me tell you…

Bees need warmth – Bees need water – Bees need rest!

In The Winter

Cleaning up has never been so easy… let me tell ya. Want to help bees in the winter? Simply leave things out. I know right, didn’t think it’d be so simple, did you? If you leave a few yard scraps here and there, it creates the perfect little shelter for the tiny critters to take refuge in during the brutal winter frosts and freezes. Think of it as one less thing you need to pick up, and one more thing they can use to survive! It’s a win-win in

my (non-professional) opinion.

There’s not much you need to do in the winter, but the summer is a different story. Each season of harsh weather has its own loonnnggg to-do list, but, unlike most humans, the summer isn’t for relaxing for these little pollinators. Their to-do’s are quite extensive at that time of year, so they need an extra hand in helping them make the world continue spinning on its axis. Not to be dramatic.  

In The Summer

Let me just start by saying… BEES SLEEP IN FLOWERS!!! No need to research this… I’ve witnessed it so many times, first-hand, and it is quite literally the most wholesome thing I’ve ever seen. But they also desperately need hydration, so watering your beautiful flowers will give them a little taste of heaven on earth so they can get those tiny wings fluttering and go do their important business! It’s like a rest stop on a long journey across the states – only, the water in the vending machines is free and they don’t need to sleep in their car.

More to this point, bees sleep when rest is absolutely necessary, just like us! So, plant a few extra and leave a little extra. All it takes is one droplet of water or even one flower petal to help these little cuties live and bee happy. Planting native, pollinator-friendly wildflowers creates a little rest stop that beautifies your home and keeps the goodness coming. Wildflowers are soooo easy to care for and are soooo beautiful in anyone’s yard – you just lay the seeds, sprinkle a little bit of water on them, then let their native habitat do its thang! Think of it like you’re seasoning your food with a little extra salt... a little goes a long way and completely enhances your meal, bringing it to the next level and benefitting everyone that gives it a taste.

All Year Long

Just to summarize, all of this applies to every single season for these tiny warriors. They need warmth in the winter, rest and hydration in the summer, and help from you all year long.

You can do these simple things (I’ll say it louder for the people in the back) All. Year. Long!! Wildflowers come in many shapes, sizes, and seasons. You can plant perennials that will come back year after year, and some even thrive in colder climates. And those yard scraps? Who has ever run out of yard scraps? Create a place for summer sleeps, hydration, and winter refuge with tiny tips that go a long way!

---

So, with all that being said. What are you going to do? Will you take my advice? Or will this just bee another article that you may or may not have read all the way through? I really hope it’s not the latter of the two – for the bees’ sake… and for yours. Because remember, we need them just like Prince needed the color purple.

We live in a world where our symbiotic relationship with bees is the simple reality that we can’t and shouldn’t escape from, no matter how many books we read and TV shows we binge watch.

So, the next time you see a bee just chillin’ on your back porch, maybe slide ‘em a droplet of water. Or, the next time you see a bee shivering under your carport, knit him a sweater or what not. I guarantee it, you’ll gain a friend for (their) life and will have the best garden in the neighborhood that spring… a garden where you might just find a cute little bee sleeping tight. Now that would be the bees knees.