Back to bees

Previously I mentioned that I like bees, and today I am going expand on why. 

When I was little I didn't get along with the local kids most of the time. I was enrolled in a private school and so everyone knew I was different. It didn't help that I was probably in the most well off family in the neighborhood as well, at least for most of the time we lived there.

So I spent a lot of my time at home away from the other kids, but sometimes the local kids would stop by when I was in the front yard reading. The conversation would usually go something like this:

Hey, what are you doing?

Reading.

Why?

Because I want to know what happens.

Why not just watch the movie?

They haven't made one yet.

Must be boring then.

(Noncommittal shrug)

Dude there's a bee on you!

They like bright colors.

It's going to sting you.

No it's not.

You're weird.

(Noncommittal shrug)

They would ride off and I would go back to reading, wondering why people were so stupid.

Sometimes I would just sit there and watch the bees flying from flower to flower, wondering why people weren't more like bees. Cooperating to help everyone in the community, instead of being mean to each other. Other times I would imagine that the bees were my protectors and would chase the mean neighborhood kids away.

So it makes me sad whenever I read a new article about declining bee populations in America. Beyond the stupidity of destroying the best way to pollinate crops, it hits me on a personal level. Thankfully there's a simple solution, to help bees, that everyone can do.

Plant flowers, it really is that easy. The manicured lawns that are so common create a wasteland for bees. This means that they have to travel far from their hives and don't always make it back. In many ways we are starving them, and with starvation comes disease which is why less than half of the bee population survived last winter. Seriously Google it if you don't believe me.

Even if you don't want to plant a garden, or can't because of where you live, hang flower baskets. Even just one could make the difference for a traveling bee. If even that is to much then get some wildflower seeds (Google free wildflower seeds) and use that instead of grass seed or toss them on any patch of dirt you see. It really is that easy, and will accomplish more to help the planet, and bees, then recycling.

That's all for today, I hope you can find the time to help some of my favorite critter friends. Thanks for reading.