Though bees are often associated with flowers, not all blooms are created equal when it comes to attracting these pollinators. In fact, some flowers don’t attract bees at all! Here are a few of the most popular flowers that don’t seem to interest bees.
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Flowers That Don’t Attract Bees
While most flowers want to attract bees, there are some that don’t. These flowers don’t want to be pollinated by bees and have evolved to avoid it. Some of these flowers are: orchids, morning glories, and lilies.
Asters
Asters are a fall-blooming flower that come in violet, pink, blue, and white. They’re a great addition to any garden, and they don’t attract bees!
Calendulas
Calendulas are beautiful, edible flowers that come in a variety of colors including yellow, orange, and red. While they are a popular choice for gardens, calendulas are not attractive to bees. In fact, these flowers repel bees and other insects. If you’re looking to add some color to your garden without attracting bees, calendulas may be the perfect choice!
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums, often called “mums,” are one of the most popular Fall flowers. But did you know that they’re also one of the flowers that don’t attract bees? In fact, most bees avoid landing on these blooms.
The consensus among bee experts is that the vast majority of bees simply don’t care for the taste of chrysanthemums. While some bees may visit chrysanthemum flowers in search of nectar, they typically won’t linger long or collect much pollen. As a result, these flowers don’t provide much in the way of nutrition for bees.
So if you’re looking for a Fall flower that will attract bees to your garden, you might want to try something else. Some good options include asters, black-eyed Susans, and goldenrods.
Geraniums
Geraniums are a type of flower that does not attract bees. This is because they do not produce nectar, which is what bees are attracted to. Geraniums are still beautiful flowers, and they make a great addition to any garden.
Why Bees Are Important
Bees are important because they pollinate flowers. Without bees, we would not have many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that we enjoy today. Bees also produce honey, which is a delicious and healthy treat.
Pollination
Bees are essential for the pollination of many crops and flowers. While honey bees are the best-known pollinators, there are actually many different types of bees, including bumblebees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, mason bees, mining bees and sweat bees. These different species pollinate crops such as apples, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, cranberries, cucumbers, alfalfa and almonds.
In addition to providing food for humans, pollination also helps to ensure the survival of many plant species. When a bee collects nectar from a flower, pollen sticks to the bee’s body. As the bee moves from flower to flower in search of nectar, pollen is transferred to the female reproductive organs of the flower (the stigma), which results in fertilization and the creation of seed.
Honey
Bees make honey as a food source, but they also make it to feed their young. The process of making honey is fascinating. First, the bees collect nectar from flowers. Nectar is a sugary substance that flowers produce to attract bees. The bees store the nectar in their “honey stomachs.” As the bees fly back to the hive, they regurgitate the nectar into the mouths of other bees. These bees then chew on the nectar for a while, mixing it with enzymes from their saliva. This process breaks down the sucrose in the nectar into glucose and fructose, which are simpler sugars. The bees then deposit the nectar into honeycomb cells in the hive and fan it with their wings to evaporate some of the water out of it. Once enough water has evaporated, the honey becomes thick and sticky and is ready to eat!
Honey is an amazing substance because it doesn’t spoil. That’s because there is so little water in it (about 18%) that bacteria can’t grow in it. In fact, honey has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old!
How to Attract Bees to Your Garden
Bees are essential for the health of your garden, but sometimes they can be difficult to attract. There are a few key things you can do to make your garden more bee-friendly. This section will cover a few of the best flowers to plant to attract bees, as well as a few other tips.
Use a Bee House
Bees are terrific pollinators and an essential part of any garden. If you are looking for ways to attract bees to your garden, there are a few things you can do. One of the best ways to attract bees is to use a bee house.
A bee house is a small structure that provides bees with a place to nest and raise their young. Bee houses can be purchased online or at many garden stores. You can also build your own bee house using a few simple materials.
Another way to attract bees to your garden is to choose plants that bees love. Some of the best plants for attracting bees include: clover, lavender, daisies, and oregano. Planting a variety of flowers will provide bees with the pollen they need to thrive.
Finally, make sure to provide water for the bees in your garden. A simple bowl of water with a few rocks or pebbles placed inside will give bees a place to drink and cool off on hot days.
Plant Flowers that Attract Bees
Bees are attracted to flowers that are yellow, blue, or purple and have a strong fragrance. Plant flowers of different colors and heights to give bees a variety of options. Some good choices include:
-Asters
-Black-eyed Susans
-Borage
-Calendula
-Catmint
-Coneflowers
-Cosmos
-Crocus
-Dandelions
-Echinacea
-Fennel
-Geraniums
-Lavender
-Marigolds
Mint Poppy Rosemary Sage Sunflowers Thyme
Don’t Use Pesticides
Pesticides are one of the most common ways to unintentionally kill bees. Pesticides contaminate the pollen and nectar that bees collect from flowers. This contamination can cause bees to become disoriented, weaken their immune systems, and in some cases, die.
