Growing a variety of flowering plants helps bees and other beneficial insects

Growing a mixture of annuals, perennials and flowering trees and shrubs will help bees and other beneficial insects that provide natural control of plant pests. Bees have been in the news this spring. Each week I see another article about the struggles of bees and beekeepers. Unfortunately, the challenges for professional beekeepers are being confused with advice for making our yards and gardens bee-friendly, when in fact there is very little connection. The growing interest in the bees that frequent our yards and gardens does provide a great opportunity to explain the benefits of encouraging bees and beneficial insects in the yard and garden.