The days are getting warmer and the sound of bees buzzing through our backyards begins.
Bees and other pollinators are essential components of healthy ecosystems, and are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. They forage for pollen and nectar in our backyards, roadsides and farm hedgerows, but are now under threat from lack of habitat.
Earthwise Society, in partnership with Delta Chamber of Commerce, encourages residents to help "Feed the Bees" by stocking their gardens with pesticide-free plants that bloom from March through October.
To help people make wise choices about what plants to put in the garden, the Earthwise Nursery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This Saturday, the Earthwise Society will host its annual Bee Friendly Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to choosing from a wide selection of bee-friendly plants, visitors can get an up close peek at a living beehive with the resident beekeeper Janet Wilson.
A selection of Bee Garden Starter Kits will also be available, consisting of seven perennials that will bloom in succession from spring until fall.
Not only are these plants important sources of pollen and nectar for pollinators, they provide colourful flowers all year.
To help it increase offerings of pesticide-free plants, the Earthwise Society is looking for donations of perennial divisions. Contact info@earthwisesociety. bc.ca for further information. All proceeds from the plant sale go directly to the Feed the Bees program and other Earthwise educational programming. The Earthwise Farm and Garden are located at 6400-3rd Ave. in Boundary Bay.
