Bees and wild bees: Bee Happy

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly bees find the first spring flowers to bloom and collect pollen from them. The bee colony urgently needs this pollen, as it provides the brood with vital nutrients.

We humans can do a great deal to ensure that our wild and honeybees find a plentiful supply of food.
One of the most important food plants in spring is the willow, with its catkins. If you have space in your garden, you can easily propagate willow using cuttings about 50 cm long. With a bit of luck, they’ll take root – ideally during the waning moon.

Another excellent forage plant is the cornelian cherry, also known as the ‘Dirndl’ bush. It produces beautiful yellow flowers and its fruits are edible. After the profuse dandelion bloom, bees need a variety of food sources, particularly in domestic gardens.
These include, for example, lavender, thyme, lemon balm, purple loosestrife, sunflowers, ivy, etc.

Local garden centres and some Tyrolean municipalities place great emphasis on bee-friendly plants.
Outside the tourist information centre in Hall in Tirol, there is a wildflower meadow and a special spot for wild bees – a 4-star hotel to marvel at.

Bees, wild bees, bumblebees and all insects thank us for every bit of food we provide!

As a beekeeper, it is particularly important to me that you refrain from using weedkillers and pesticides in your garden. The bees lose their sense of direction and can no longer find their way back to the hive.
Honeybees and wild bees are dying.