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Get to know
your native bee neighbors
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Did you know that the familiar honey bee is a European immigrant? Colonists brought bee colonies with them to the new world to ensure a successful harvest of agricultural crops. There's been a lot of attention paid to the plight of honey bees of late, as they're unfortunately plaguged by everything from parasitic mites to disease.
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Less frequently discussed are the roughly 4000 species of native bees that have lived in America much longer. They are the most efficient of pollinators, essential to almost all insect-pollinated plants.
Like the honey bee, their numbers are also in decline. Fortunately, by taking three simple steps, you can nurture native bees while reaping the benefits of their pollination skills. In fact, new world vegetables such as squash, tomatoes and peppers, are only pollinated by native bees.
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Before we get started, let's address the question of safety. While the idea of attracting more bees to your garden might sound hazardous, native bee stings are rare compared to honey bee or wasp stings. In fact, many native bees are small, drab, and inconspicuous, so you might not realize they're visiting your garden at all, unless you're on the lookout for them.
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30% of native bees are cavity nesters. Certain plants with hollow or pithy stems make great homes for these bees, including:
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Allium
Anise Hyssop
Asters
Beebalm
Blackberry
Blue Wild Indigo
Coneflower
Daylily
Foxglove
Goldenrod
Heliopsis
Hollyhocks
Ironweed
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Joe-pye weed
Liatris
Lilac
Lovage
Mexican Hat Flower
Raspberries
Roses
Spirea
Sumac
Sunflower
Swamp Milkweed
Yucca
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To easily provide natural habitat for cavity-nesting bees in your garden:
- Rather than cutting old stems back to the ground, cut them 8-24" high in fall or spring.
- Leave the cut ends in place. Bees will lay a series of eggs in these cavities in spring.
- The young won’t emerge until some time in the following year, so allow the cut stems to stand and decompose naturally.
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King Charles III of England is a famous gardener. Following English garden tradition going back to the Victorian era, he created a "stumpery" at Highgrove Gardens, uprooting stumps of dead trees from the ground and overturning them to expose the roots, interplanting them with ferns, hellebore and hosta.
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For a less labor intensive approach, stumperies may also be created around standing tree stumps or fallen logs. The dead wood provides habitat for a great deal of garden wildlife, including toads, wood-boring insects, woodpeckers, and cavity-nesting bees that shelter in the holes that the woodpeckers create.
If you happen to live in a forested area, you can also enrich the habitat available to wildlife by leaving fallen trees to lie.
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70% of bees nest in bare ground. You've probably seen their inconspicuous nests- often nothing more to the eye than a tiny lump of loose earth.
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If you have a dry area of your yard that doesn't require much weeding, try planting it with drought tolerant plants and leaving the soil between them bare rather than mulching it.
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Ground nesting bees can also find their way through a thin layer pine needles or compost.
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If you're looking to create a more sustainable and beautiful garden, consider encouraging native bees to take up residence. You'll be rewarded with a thriving ecosystem and a more vibrant and diverse garden.
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By taking these simple steps, you can make a big difference in the lives of these hardworking insects, both enhancing your garden's productivity, and also playing a vital role in supporting these essential pollinators.
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The holiday season is here, and that means lots to look forward to at Hoerr Nursery!
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We'll have plenty of fresh-cut Christmas trees in our indoor lot this year, with real bundled greens, homegrown poinsettias, holiday wreaths & garlands, and our signature handmade porch pots.
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We'll be annoucing these Christmas fresh items and more as they become available. Check this newsletter or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates.
Plus, mark your calendars for these exciting events:
Pics w/ St. Nick
November 25th, 11am-2pm
Dec 2nd, 11am-2pm
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Grab your camera and your kids or pets, and come to our free Pics w/ St. Nick event! Santa Claus will be at Hoerr Nursery, ready to hear all about who's been naughty and who's been nice.
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Braker's Dozen Bakery
Dec. 2nd, 10am-2pm
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Braker's Dozen will be on hand with their famous fresh baked treats for sale on site, December 2nd.
(P.S.: Come early if you want to snag some cinnamon rolls- they're a staff favorite!)
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Hoerr Nursery Holiday Workshops
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We still have some of our popular wreath and porch pot holiday workshops available! Click here to see our selection, and to save your spot!
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Complete your holiday shopping and decorating with a visit to our boutique garden gift shop. Our selection is never the same twice, and we're an authorized retailer of Old World Christmas ornaments!
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As the holiday season approaches, our garden center is transformed into a winter wonderland, and there's something for everyone to enjoy! Whether it's a family hunt for the perfect Christmas tree or making memories with Santa, mark your calendars, and make it Hoerr for the holidays!
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On sale now
while supplies last!
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Fall Giftware - 40% off
Select Trees - 40-60% off
Select shrubs - 33% off
Shrub Roses - 33% off
Roses - $15 each
David Austins, florabundas, grandafloras, hybrid teas & climbers
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