In Winter bees have a particularly tough time. But, we can do a lot to help them. There are a number of things we can do to help.
Winter Flowers
To help these little buzzing boys we can plant special Winter blooming flowers. There are a number of winter blooming flowers that one can plant. Clematis is a winter blooming flower. The flowers are particularly attractive to bees. It is rather low maintenance, however, it can’t survive harsh winters, so if you live somewhere very cold you may want to consider something else. The Clematis is toxic to dogs, cats and horses, consider this before planting! Snowdrops are another winter flower that are rich with nectar and pollen, perfect for the bees! Hellebores are another winter plant which bees love. Winter Aconites are another nectar rich flower. Not only do these winter flowers benefit the bees, they also help brighten up dull winter gardens. So, get planting!
Twigs and Compost
In the Winter bees benefit from small nooks and crannies. Compost heaps are useful for this. Also, bees, particularly solitary bees, like mason bees, like special hiding places. Twig piles are perfect for this. Or you could consider a more aesthetic option, such as an insect hotel. The hollow tubes in them are ideal for mason bees.
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