Thinking about Bees

by Evelyn Alemanni


It's spring in Southern California and the bees are out and about, doing what they do best. My citrus trees are starting to bloom and the bees are happy about that. Elsewhere in my garden seeds scattered last fall are creating a meadow that's a veritable bee-buffet.As you know, pollinators such as bees are essential to getting good crop yields.

If you attended last year's America in Bloom national symposium and awards in Holland, MI, you most likely took home a beautiful gift box full of AAS seeds courtesy of the National Garden Bureau, Inc. so that you can create your very own pollinator habitat.

I was anxious to get started, so late last fall, I opened the packet of Syngenta Pinto geranium seeds. I was intrigued, because I've never grown geraniums from seed. They were started in seed planting soil in a container placed on a heat mat under lights. In just a few days, little geraniums appeared. After a few weeks, I transplanted them into four inch pots and moved them to the greenhouse where they are healthy and vigorous, awaiting a move to outdoors as soon as we get a few cloudy days.

Although you might still be having frosty nights and snow showers where you live, this is a good time to start planting your seeds indoors. Just remember to provide adequate heat, light and water, and before you know it, spring will be here and you can move your plants to their final location. As you start your pollinator garden, remember to register it at MillionPollinatorGardenChallenge.org.