A list of beneficial blooms for bees and pollinators.
They have healing/beneficial powers to humans, too!
Borage. Bloom that refills with nectar every 2 minutes! Strong anti-inflammatory benefits
Lavender. Antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Uplifting and calming
Hyssop. Aids in respiratory issues. Anti-spasmodic, increases circulation.
Comfrey. High in Calcium, Vitamin C. Stimulates healing activity in both open wounds and broken bones
Sage. used for digestive problems, including loss of appetite, stomach pain, and heartburn.
Thyme. Used for stomach ache, arthritis, colic, sore throat, cough (whooping cough,) bronchitis. Diuretic
Marjoram/Oregano. analgesic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antiviral, and bactericidal.
Echinacea. encourages the immune system and reduces many of the symptoms of colds, flu and some other illnesses, infections, and conditions
Peppermint. Reduces stomach aches, soothe digestive issues, relieves headaches, Antimicrobial properties, improves mental focus, Clears respiratory tract, Boosts energy.
Lemon Balm. Contains antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
Mustard. a good source of dietary folate and vitamin A as well. greens or leaves are an excellent source of essential minerals including potassium, calcium and phosphorous. It is also a good source of dietary fiber
Bergamot/Monarda/Bee Balm. Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant properties
Chamomile. Promotes, Boosts Immunity, Treats Cold, Reduces Muscle Spasms, Soothes Stomach Ache, Reduces Stress, Lightens Skin, Anti-Aging Great for Tea!
Dandelion. Protects Bones, High in Vitamin K, Cleanses Liver, Fights Diabetes, Fights Skin Infections, High in Antioxidants, Rich in Fiber. Great for sore muscles!
Velerian/Heliotrope. Naturally Aids Sleep, Calms Anxiety, Lowers Blood Pressure, Eases Menstrual Cramps, Improves Stress Management.
Rosemary. antibacterial and antioxidant, known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties.
Mullein. alleviate respiratory conditions. Taken as a tea, it can help with common ailments such as dry cough, congestion and sore throat. It may help with inflammatory respiratory conditions, like asthma and bronchitis
Nettle. Treat disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract. Used in nerve regeneration therapies (topically)
Honey bees are the only insects that produce food eaten by humans.
A honey bee can fly up to eight miles, and as fast as 15 miles per hour to forage for pollen or nectar
The average worker bee produces about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime, which is about 30 days.
A hive of bees will fly 90,000 miles, the equivalent of three orbits around the earth, to collect 1 kg of honey.
It takes one ounce of honey to fuel a bee’s flight around the world.
A honey bee visits 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip.
A colony of bees consists, on average, of 20,000-60,000 honey bees with one reigning queen.
Worker honey bees are all female, live for 4-6 weeks, and do all the work in the hive.
Drones, or male bees, do not contribute anything to the hive but mates for the queen. They are banished from the hive every winter and left for dead outside.
Every honey bee colony has a distinct colony odor or pheromone.
The honey bees’ main purpose is to pollinate food crops, not produce honey. The honey is a by-product of their pollination and is used mainly for winter or dry spells when there is no fresh nectar or pollen to gather.
Workers born early in the season (spring and summer) will live about 4-6 weeks, while those born in the fall will live until the following spring, they actually slow down their systems to survive longer through the winter.
There is one Queen Bee in the hive; she lays all the eggs (baby bees) in the hive.
Honey Bees are the only insects that create their own habitat out of wax, which is secreted from a pouch on their abdomen. Common wasps and hornets live in paper nests.
Bees maintain a temperature of 92-93 degrees Fahrenheit in their central brood nest (where baby bees are raised) regardless of whether the outside temperature is over 100 or -40 degrees.
All worker bees go through different jobs depending on their stage in the life cycle. The youngest bees help take care of baby bees, next they would become forage bees, or bees that work the plants to pollinate as well as gather pollen and nectar to feed their family. Finally, the oldest bees take care of the queen and keep the hive clean.
Local honey is best for you if you suffer from seasonal allergies, the tiny particles of pollen can help build up a tolerance to plant that causes allergy symptoms.
The almond tree is a plant that cannot be pollinated by any other source other than the honey bee.
The honey bee is sick and a lot of honey bee colonies are dying. A disorder known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has been hurting the honey bee populations all over the world since 2006.
We don’t know the exact cause of CCD, but a lot of people think it has to do with taking the bees honey and using too many chemicals to grow plants and food. The honey bee needs a balanced diet, plenty of water and rest, just like we do!
Honey never expires. It is naturally antibacterial and does not contain enough water in it to spread bacteria, it used to be used as an antibacterial topical skin ointment (like Neosporin today) There are crocks of honey from 6,000 years ago in Egypt that still contain good, edible honey!