Have you ever discover that you should hold open blowball for the bee ? Here are some thing to consider about dandelion and bee . record on to learn more , and what works and flowers you should be saving for bees rather .
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Do we really need to save dandelions for the bees?
With all of the posts I have onforaging dandelions , blowball theme , anddandelion recipes , I often learn folks enjoin that I should be save the dandelions for the bee , especially in other spring .
While I realise the mentation behind this , to the surprisal of many , dandelions really do not need to be saved for the bee !
This does not in any way mean that you should spray or otherwise adjudicate to decimate blowball , however !
It just means that we humans can utilize them as well without worry of harming the bee population .
Below are six things to consider when thinking about dandelions and bee .
Dandelions are NOT a first food for bees
One of the things I hear the most is that “ blowball are a bee first food . ”
This is not true !
There are many other industrial plant that bloom before or around the same time as dandelions in late winter and other spring that are much more important for bee .
Here are some examples :
Get formula for intellectual nourishment , drinks , infusion , and ego - concern using dandelion flower , leaves , and roots in my ebook , Dandelion Recipes From Flower To Root !
Dandelions are NOT an ideal food for bees
Dandelionslack vital amino acidsand nutrients that bee need . They simply are not a quality food for thought source for bee .
Pollen from trees like willow , maple , and yield trees is a much higher timbre nutrient author .
willow tree is peculiarly crucial as it grows nigh everywhere in temperate region and almost always blooms well before blowball .
If you ’ve ever been around a willow tree tree in early leaping you bang that it is potential to be buzz with bee activity !
Another thing to count is that blowball are unfortunately often sprayed with green goddess grampus and herbicides , which we all know is not good for bees ( or humans ) at all !
There are other early spring flowers we can plant for bees
Besides all of the unfolding weeds and tree heyday that bee lie with , there are also some early spring flowers that we can plant in our grounds for the bees !
Calendula flowersandviolascome up before dandelions in my backyard , and borage peak are n’t too far behind . If you ’ve ever go steady a patch of borage in flush then you know that bees and other pollinator absolutely lie with them !
Some other former spring blossom to flora include crocus , hyacinth , and daffodil .
Most of all , a variety of flowers for the bee is best !
See my listing of12 common flowers to found for the bee !
Dandelions are more nutritious for humans than bees
While dandelions are not very nutritious for bee , they are full of nutritional benefits for human race !
Dandelion peak , leaves , and roots have been an important food and medicine reservoir for world for centuries . They are high in vitamins , mineral , and antioxidant as well as being good for the liver , digestion , and skin issues .
Makedandelion salvefor muscle and joint pain , dandelion stem bittersfor digestion , ordandelion pestofor vitamins and minerals .
dandelion are an herbal friend for us in so many style !
We should not be made to feel shamed for utilizing a plant that has been a part of human story for so long .
As long as we give the bees plenitude of other give flowers that are well suitable for them , have us have our dandelions !
Dandelions come back twofold when picked
If you ’ve ever pluck dandelions , or tried to get rid of them in your G , then you cognise that the more you pick the more they come back !
Many flower , plants , and trees are like this , which is why pruning can often perk up new growth . The blowball require to bloom , needs to in parliamentary law to fan out seed , so will do everything it can to keep blossom .
So , if you are really worried about bees getting their spring dandelions , you should actually be picking more of them ! I get laid it seems counterintuitive , but it ’s true .
Think of it as pruning , do n’t take every single one , but enough to stimulate more growth .
There are enough dandelions to share
It ’s pretty amazing really . There is no shortage of dandelions , and picking them makes them grow and blossom even more .
We get some , the bee get some , and it ’s all good !
Just make indisputable you are leaving a variety of blossom weeds , trees , and flowers for the bee , and they will be happy !
Easy dandelion recipes to try:
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