Dear Editor:
With the bad news of the decline of honey bees, I feel there is a lot we can do.
There are hundreds of solitary wild bees that do a great job of pollinating, which as we known, is essential if we are going to survive. They do not sting, by the way.
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I have many different flowers in my garden and have noticed how each bee seems to prefer a certain flower.
For instance, I have several delphiniums that, when in bloom, are abuzz with bumble bees. One small bee loves monada (bee balm) and another prefers gaillardia.
Solitary bees do not make hives. They lay their eggs in a crevice or hole and seal it off with clay or mud, ready for the larva to grow.
By the way, don’t pull out all your dandelions. Keep a bit of your lawn especially for the bees. Our orchards need all these wild bees.
Pixie Marriott
Summerland
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