As we head into the bee pollination season, usually October through mid-April, I’m reminded of an elderly lady in Martin County who called the wildlife authorities to have a bee colony removed that was hanging in her live oak next to the driveway. She complained that she was too afraid to walk to the curb for her mail. A local beekeeper was called to relocate the colony and life went back to normal.

This year’s Zika virus aerial spraying in south Florida has taken a huge toll on the bee population killing tens of millions of plant pollinators. Florida beekeepers are working hard at splitting bee colonies, a technique used to make up for population losses. However, it takes time for a parent colony to recover its honey-making ability.

So how can we help?

1. Plant now to ensure mature, blooming plants for the queen bees’ “coming out” party in the spring when they will need a healthy supply of nectar and pollen to start their colonies.
2. Turn stone patios into bee-enticing gardens of green and flowering plant life and keep it going with a variety of plants that bloom in different seasons.
3. In outdoor gardens, use less mulch. Solitary bees dig a nest in the ground to raise their young. When mulch is too deep, they can’t dig a nest; if too much mulch is added over a nest, the young can’t escape. Container plants solve this problem.
4. Rent plants covered by a maintenance plan. When you buy and maintain your own plants, its tempting to use harsh chemicals and pesticides to preserve and protect your investment. When you rent plans from us, our service technicians carefully watch for and hand-treat any problems and maintain healthy feeding patterns that keeps a plant’s immune system strong.

Remember, the key to bee-happy this spring is to learn more about Plantique’s bee-friendly plant rental and maintenance programs, call us at (800) 749-0124.