[Pollinator] FW: See Honeybees at Work: U.S. Department of Agriculture Launches BeeWatch

[Tom Van Arsdall]

Tom

 

From: Ceccarini, Annie [mailto:Annie.Ceccarini at dm.usda.gov] On Behalf Of
Peoples Garden - OSEC
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2014 12:19 PM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: See Honeybees at Work: U.S. Department of Agriculture Launches
BeeWatch

 

Dear Friend of The People's Garden: 

 

bee hive.jpgToday we launched #USDABeeWatch at www.usda.gov/beewatch to
increase public awareness about bee activity and the actions Americans can
take to support pollinators. We encourage you to support USDA's work by
adopting pollinator-friendly gardening practices!

 

This live feed ("bee cam") of The People's Garden Apiary located on the roof
of the Jamie L. Whitten Building at USDA Headquarters in Washington, DC is
viewable 24/7. You can take this virtual tour
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/9110167709/>  for a look inside the
hive.

 

So what will you see on our bee cam? This time of year, the camera - placed
several feet from the entrance of the hive - shows female worker bees
entering and exiting the hive gathering nectar and pollen to convert into
honey. Be on the lookout for bees carrying a load of pollen on their hind
legs. As bees groom, they'll move the pollen onto their back legs creating a
pellet of pollen. 

 

The availability of pollen and nectar from flowering plants in surrounding
landscapes is very important to the growth, development and productivity of
any honeybee colony. Populations of honeybees, native bees and other
pollinators like birds, butterflies, beetles and bats have declined due to
habitat loss, disease, adverse weather, and other conditions. We need
pollinators to pollinate most of our flowering plants giving us the foods
that give our diet nutrition, diversity and flavor.

 

Helping pollinators is essential. That's why we've adopted
pollinator-friendly gardening practices at USDA Headquarters and encourage
you to do the same. Simple actions you can take on your farm, ranch or
garden to create or improve pollinator habitat include:

 

.         Planting a variety of native flowering shrubs, trees and
wildflowers that bloom continuously throughout the seasons; allowing small
plants like clover in your lawn instead of trying to eradicate these "weeds"
with herbicides.

.         Finding non-chemical solutions to insect problems;

.         Providing a source of clean water for birds and other pollinators
such as a birdbath;

.         Using native plant species that are from your ecoregion
<http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm> ;

.         Leaving dead foliage on native perennials as a source of food and
nesting material for wildlife in winter; or

 

Become involved. Plant a small pollinator garden and experience the pleasure
of observing pollinators in your garden. Share your findings with us using
hashtag #USDABeeWatch. Most importantly, get outside with your family and
friends and explore the natural and urban habitats that we share with
pollinators and flowering plants. 

 

Bee Well,

The People's Garden Team

 

 

Follow Us 

@PeoplesGarden

Join Us

www.usda.gov/peoplesgarden

#USDABeeWatch

www.usda.gov/beewatch 

 

 

 





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