Bee Hospitality

I have two new bee houses, one I bought from Crown Bees, and a fantastic homemade one I got from my sister and brother-in-law for Christmas.

I also have a tube of Mason Bees in the refrigerator and no idea what to do with them, so a little research is in order. 

The purpose of a bee house is to attract solitary bees, who are  extremely docile and up to three times more effective as pollinators. Some of the most common solitary bees are mason bees, leafcutter bees, and miner bees. Many of these native bees are already a part of the local ecosystem, but providing them with a perfect place to nest in your backyard can improve their lives and yours.

Agenda:

1. Put my bee houses up

2. Release the Mason Bees!

3. Bee House Maintenance

Seeds in Winter (Unity Art for Pollinators, Part 3)

I've been seeking unity with pollinators, and this week I finally planted seeds.

The darkness of winter is important for seeds. They need dormancy before they can germinate. Dormancy is a protective mechanism that prevents seeds from sprouting too early. Some seeds stay dormant for years waiting for the right survival conditions, and only a complete set of favorable environmental conditions will cause them to begin growing. The seeds of some plants germinate only when triggered by very specific light levels.

Agenda:

1. Read a novena

2. Read "Nature's Best Hope"

3. Light a candle for Unity with nature

4. Plant some seeds

5. Bee art

6. Donate to bees

Unity Art for Pollinators, Part Two

I've been seeking unity with pollinators, and I'm ready now to take the next steps, which is to plant habitat. Fall is the best time to do that.

Native pollinators need appropriate native plants, those that are indigenous to our specific geographic area: Here in the Willamette Valley, we live in the Pacific Lowland Mixed Forest ecosystem (same as the Puget Sound Valley). Before cultivation, we had dense coniferous forests, prairies that supported open stands of oaks, and wetlands with swamp or bog communities. The original, natural vegetation provided continuous cover and adjacent feeding opportunities for wildlife, including pollinators.

We can no longer assume that nature "out there" somewhere is taking care of the wildlife. We need to turn our urban and suburban areas into habitat, starting with native pollinator gardens. Imagine a pollinator-friendly neighborhood, with native plants in bloom through as much of the growing season as possible, from one yard, patio, front porch to another! Imagine birds, bees, and butterflies welcomed back to our cities!

“What if each American landowner made it a goal to convert half of his or her lawn to productive native plant communities? Even moderate success could collectively restore some semblance of ecosystem function to more than twenty million acres of what is now ecological wasteland. ... we can create this country’s largest park system. It gives me the shivers just to write about it. Because so much of this park will be created at our homes, I suggest we call it Homegrown National Park.” 

― Douglas Tallamy, Nature's Best Hope

Agenda: 

1. Prepare to create pollinator habitat

2. Gather plants and seeds:

3. Start seeds and transplants

4. Planting milkweed and lupine

5. Butterfly craftivism

Unity Art for Pollinators

Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators are in dramatic decline. I want to support them, and find ways I can forge a stronger connection between us, so I've been applying my Unity Art practice to pollinators.

Unity Art is a process that opens the doors of creative healing to anyone, any age, any ability. My intention is to use my creative fire to forge a stronger connection between me and the pollinators.

Agenda:

1. Set pollinator intentions
2. Collect photos of pollinators

3. Mindful bee watching

4. Wild garden practices