BEE GARDEN

BEE GARDEN

Tips for building

Bees’ favorite flower colors are blue, purple, yellow and white.

Research when plants bloom so your garden will have bee-attracting flowers early to late in the growing season.

Include native plants in your garden. To find retailers, go to the Michigan Native Plant Producers Association at www.mnppa.org.

Leave a few spots of bare soil between plants for bees that build nests in the ground. Others nest in old logs or branches, so let a few of those remain, too.

Build a bee house by drilling holes in a solid piece of preservative-free wood. For instructions, go to www.xerces.org/Pollinator — Insect — Conservation/nativebeenests.pdf.

Sources: Julianna Tuell; “The Wildlife Gardener’s Guide” (Brooklyn Botanic Garden, $9.95)