I'm always inspired by nature. The captivating textures, shapes, and colors of the natural world deeply influence my work – fields of flowers, majestic forests, running water, floating clouds, and, of course, beautiful stones in every formation. I’m also inspired by the creatures that share this planet with us. My latest collection, Bee Fruitful & Pollinate, is all about our planet’s most prolific pollinators: bees! Vivid bumblebee jasper combined with floral and bee designs make each piece unique.
The importance of bees
Pollination is the reproductive process required by many plants and trees in order to create more plants and trees. We rely on this process to sustain the air we breathe, enjoy cool lush environments to live in, and make so much of our food (fruits, nuts, chocolate, coffee, vegetables, herbs, etc.). Bees play a vital roll in fertilizing the plant kingdom all around the world. They’re considered a keystone species. Without them, our food supply and life-sustaining ecosystems would be severely impacted.
A little bee culture
There are two main categories of bees: social and solitary. Social bees live in large groups, such as the ever popular honeybee. Solitary bees, on the other hand, tend to live alone and include carpenter bees (my fav), mining bees, wooly bees, mason bees, and many others. As a matter of fact, about 90% of the world’s bees are solitary varieties, not the social types that live in beekeeper’s hives, making them the biggest pollinating workforce.
The bad news: Bee populations have been suffering in recent decades and their numbers declining due to several environmental factors, including pesticides, disease, climate change, and habitat loss.
The good news: We can help support bees! I created this collection to help bring awareness to this issue and to share that there are things we can do to provide a safer, healthier environment for this important species.
So, what can we do?
Here are some easy things that we can do to bring a little more bee love into our world and help these prime pollinators thrive...
Buy locally produced honey
Skip imported! Investigations show a lot of imported honey is full of sugary syrups and isn’t pure. That’s not good for us or the bees. Wherever you live, chances are bees are making honey nearby. Local honey supports local apiarists (beekeepers) and their colonies. Harvesting honey from these bees encourages them to create more honey through pollination, helping more plants and trees reproduce. Find sustainable options at farmer’s markets, local grocery stores, or even beekeeper associations. In the city where I live, we have a beekeeper supply store with an amazing selection of local honey. Check out options in your area.
Choose local and organic
While we’re talking food… We can help reduce harmful pesticides and herbicides by choosing, that’s right, local and organic foods when possible. If we can switch even one of our regular produce items (like apples or berries) to an organic option, that’s great! Every little bit helps. Of course more is better, but it’s all about doing what we can when we can. For healthy produce, I’m always a proponent of local farmer’s markets and growing some foods ourselves.
A garden just for bees (butterflies and hummingbirds too!)
Speaking of growing things: that’s a great way to support bee life. There are plenty of beautiful plants and trees that provide nourishment for bees – even for patios. Many of the same plants also feed other beneficial creatures. I have a huge Mexican bush sage that blooms long stems of gorgeous purple flowers every year and it attracts both bees and hummingbirds.
VANDA inspired’s new jewelry packaging includes a plantable seed paper card that grows flowers bees love. Learn more here!
Let the lawn get a little wild
Not just intentionally planted vegetation, but native plants that come up in the yard on their own also support bees. A perfectly manicured lawn is boring anyway. It’s beautiful to let nature do her thing. Allowing a few “weeds” to pop up or even setting aside a corner of the yard to go totally wild is a great way to create a bee-friendly habitat. One common example is dandelions. Bees love those bright yellow flowers.
Avoid pesticides & herbicides
Unless there’s a bug or disease actually destroying the crops, there really isn’t a need to treat our yards and gardens with anything. If there is a destructive infestation, try natural methods to manage it instead of turning to harsh chemicals. There are a ton of useful tips and tricks available for all your garden ailments.
Provide bee housing
Now that we’ve made sure the bees have plenty of food, we can provide some housing. Since the majority of bees are solitary and don’t live in communal hives, they’re always looking some someplace to nest. Some of these bees build their homes in the ground. They look for bare, well-drained soil. Other bees prefer small holes in the sides of trees or structures.
Want to build a bee house for your garden? I was going to write a post showing you how to create a bee box, then I came across this amazing resource that did a better job than I would have. Check out this article by Crown Bees.
Provide a bee bath
Just like every creature on our planet, bees need water too. They may seek water in outdoor pet water bowls, ponds, or bird baths. A source that’s too big without enough dry surface area for them to cling to can cause them to drown. To help with this, pile some rocks in a bowl and fill halfway with water, so the rocks stick out, but leaving enough space for the bees to get to the good stuff. Even better, use filtered water.
Teach kids about bees
One of the most important things we can do is teach younger generations about the importance of our environment and the creatures we share it with, especially keystone species like bees! Talking about these topics and doing projects together (like planting flowers or building a bee house) will help prepare future generations to be better stewards of the planet and support valuable resources.
Let’s make our world beautiful together!
I hope the message behind my latest collection inspires a little more love for bees. Nature has an extraordinary ability to grow, be resilient, and adapt. And, I know we can find ways of helping nature heal while coexisting in balance with this amazing planet.
Bee Fruitful & Pollinate is handcrafted with natural gemstones and mostly recycled sterling silver in my California studio. I mindfully source and select materials, and create each item with care – just for you! Shop this collection here.
We are responsible for creating change and there is always hope.
Wanda @ VANDA inspired
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Want more? Check out these resources:
Bee Planet: https://www.planetbee.org
The Bee Conservancy: https://thebeeconservancy.org
Buzz About Bees: https://www.buzzaboutbees.net
Bee hive photo courtesy of Meggyn Pomerleau and Unsplash (https://unsplash.com)
