WILD FLOWERS: A rescue remedy for bees. Photography supplied

MORE than one-third of what we eat is the result of intensive pollination by bees, yet the National Beekeepers’ Association (NBA) is worried that the humble honey bee is battling to keep Aotearoa’s hives alive.

Now urban gardeners are being asked to help. Landcare Research has joined with the NBA to launch the Urban Trees for Bees programme with the Auckland Council, Auckland Beekeepers Club and the New Zealand branch of the Oceania Pollination initiative.

Bees rely on nectar for energy and pollen for their proteins and vitamins. They also move pollen from one plant to another and, in the process, pollinate plants. Many garden plants rely on bee pollination to bear seed or fruit.

But honey bees in New Zealand are increasingly threatened by the long-term effects of varroa mite infestations and the American foulbrood pathogen, combined with the advent of other diseases. Misuse of pesticides affecting bees in gardens and on farms is also a cause, along with loss of habitat for shelter and lack of flowers for bee food.

The NBA believes about $1.5 million of this country’s economic earnings are attributable to pollination by honey bees through domestic and export honey sales, beeswax and exported honey bees. One mouthful in three and close to three-quarters of the diversity of the daily food we eat can be attributed to bee pollination.

Urban Trees for Bees includes tips to make gardens more bee-friendly. The project follows on from a programme developed for farmers outlining a regional list of best bee plants for farms.

However, plants in urban gardens often receive more specialised care than plants on the farm and they don’t need to be so practical, says Linda Newstrom-Lloyd, who has researched the bee programmes.

“Creating the list of best bee plants for gardeners was different from the previous regional lists for farmers,” says Linda. “In gardens, the possibilities for numerous plant species with glorious flowers are endless and even the vegetable garden can have lots of good bee plants, like squash and corn.

<!--page-->
“Almost all of herb plants tend to have a lot of nectar and are particularly well-loved by bees, especially rosemary, lavender and sage. The same is true for fruit trees like apples, plums and especially citrus fruits. Native plants for the garden, such as flax and the cabbage tree, are also of high values for bees.”

Maureen Maxwell, the NBA’s spokeswoman, says growing awareness of the plight of bees has resulted in an increase in calls from gardeners wanting to assist.

“Now that there is a much greater awareness of the global bee crisis, most people want to do something to help the bees in New Zealand.”

•  For more information, log onto www.nba.org.nz or www.treesforbeesnz.org.nz.

 Bee friendly plants

•  Herbs and kitchen garden: Basil, chives, cucumber, melon, Echinacea, pot marigold, sage, squash, pumpkin, sunflower, sweetcorn.

•  Trees, shrubs and climbers: Apple, bay laurel, kiwifruit, lavender, lemon, orange, grapefruit, pear, plum, peach, rosemary.

•  Ornamental herbaceous: Balsam, cornflower, hollyhock, Michaelmas daisy, phacelia, penstemon, salvia, sweet alyssum, zinnia.

•  Ornamental trees, shrubs, climbers: Australian gum, bottlebrush, cabbage tree, harakeke, New Zealand flax, koromiko, lemonwood, koru, New Zealand jasmine, New Zealand lacebark, pohutukawa, rata, rewarewa, tulip tree, wisteria.

<!--page-->
•  Wild flowers: Wild flowers are naturally organic and are not susceptible to bugs or diseases. They can help control garden pests and attract bees and beneficial insects into the garden.

•  Do not spray when plants are in flower or bees are present. Spray in the early morning or at sunset.

•  Provide fresh pesticide-free drinking water for bees.

•  Plant good nectar and pollen sources in the garden to nourish the bees.

•  Plant in generous clusters of the same species for the “wow” factor and bee appeal. Large clusters of each species will attract bees into the garden.

•  Plant flowers for each season.

A steady source of nectar and pollen year round sustains bees.

•  Do not plant prohibited or controlled weeds.

•  Select cultivars that attract bees – single flowers, not doubles or triples. Choose simple traditional not highly modified flowers. Garden catalogues often mark which cultivars attract bees.