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Time Is Honey: Save the Bees!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
About Honey \u2026 and Bees<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs a child, I was terrified of bees, or anything that would sting; however, I was a big fan of honey. Sweet, sticky honey on pancakes, waffles, French toast, and in hot tea! My grandfather lived to his 100th year and had a peanut butter and honey sandwich every day. He knew a secret\u2013honey has health benefits<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Honey contains antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acids that may help protect against conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.<\/li>\n
- Honey raises blood sugar like other sugars, however, research suggests it may help improve fasting blood sugar levels and increase adiponectin, a hormone that can reduce inflammation and support blood sugar regulation.<\/li>\n
- Honey may help suppress coughing, support wound healing when applied topically, fight allergies, and offer heart health benefits like improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Truth be told, whenever we got sick at home with a cold or flu, Grandma would mix us a cup of hot tea, honey, and whiskey. It worked!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
I also fondly remember my grandmother\u2019s special New Years Day treat: Struffoli.\u00a0 <\/i>They are a traditional Italian holiday treat made with flour, eggs, butter, and orange zest. The dough is shaped into marble-sized balls, deep-fried until golden, and tossed in a warm honey glaze\u2013oh, my! The memories! The thing is, those scrumptious memories could not have happened without the honey, and the honey could not have happened without the bees. [Struffoli recipe at the end of this article]\n<\/p>
Over the years, as a gardener, I have learned to make my peace with the actual bee\u2013not just the product. They\u2019re important! \u201c<\/span>Bees are the <\/span>primary pollinators<\/span><\/a> for roughly 80% of flowering crops and plants<\/span>. By transferring pollen between blooms, bees ensure fertilization, leading to higher yields, larger fruits, and improved plant reproduction. Key crops like tomatoes, berries, cucumbers, and squash depend on their activity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nIn my mature years, I have often watched (from a distance) the rather barrel-shaped, fuzzy bodies of honey bees dancing from blossom to blossom in the Rose-of-Sharon or across the precut fields of dandelions. They seem almost merry in their labors!<\/span><\/p>\nDeclining Bee Populations<\/strong><\/h2>\nLast summer though, I sadly noticed a drastically reduced population of bees in my garden. When I\u00a0 purchased honey from a friend and bee-keeper at Christmas, I mentioned that. She said that their bees had produced significantly less honey than in the past, and that it seemed to be a trend. I did some research and found that <\/span>\u201cIn January 2025, beekeepers across the country began reporting unexpected large-scale honey bee losses\u2014we now know the largest ever recorded in the U.S.,\u201d according to<\/span> Danielle Downey<\/span><\/a>, executive director of Project Apis. I also learned that, \u201c<\/span>managed honey bee colonies are facing unsustainable, high annual losses, <\/span>averaging around 40% in the U.S. due to a <\/span>combination of factors<\/span><\/a> including pests, pathogens (especially <\/span>Varroa<\/span><\/i> mites), pesticides, and poor nutrition<\/span>.\u201d It\u2019s weird, but the more I learned about the plight of the honey bees, the less frightening and the, well, <\/span>cuter <\/span><\/i>they became.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe reality is that, without bees, \u201c<\/span>global ecosystems and food production would face catastrophe. <\/mark><\/a>The loss would cause massive reductions in fruit, vegetable, and nut production, resulting in severe food shortages and higher prices. Many flowering plants would die, collapsing food chains, while the nutritional value of human diets\u201d would suffer.\u201d<\/p>\nIt has also been claimed that \u201cThe safety of England depends on the number of cats she keeps. Without the aid of bumble-bees the red clover could not be fertilised. Bumble-bees make their nests on the ground, where they are the prey of mice. Cats destroy the mice and give the bees a chance to live. Hence, no cats, many mice; many mice, no bumble-bees; no bees, no clover; no clover, no cattle; no cattle, no beef; and without beef where would the Englishman be?\u201d\u2014Prof. W. W. Cooke\u2014(American Bee Journal<\/a>.)<\/p>\nIn my research, I discovered that \u201c<\/span>honey bees are <\/span>not native<\/span><\/a> to North America<\/span>. They were brought over from Europe by settlers in the 1600s for honey and wax production. While crucial for modern agriculture, they are technically an introduced, managed species that competes with over 3,600 species of bees native to the continent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nI want to help those little immigrants!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
What can I do?<\/strong><\/h2>\nHelping honey bees<\/span><\/a> involves <\/span>creating safe habitats, providing food sources, and eliminating chemical pesticides<\/span>. Gardeners should plant native, pollen-rich flowers, reduce lawn areas, and leave some wild, untended spaces for nesting. Essential steps also include providing a shallow water source, avoiding pesticides, and supporting local beekeepers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nI Can <\/span>Plant a Bee-Friendly Garden<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nI can choose native plants\u2013flowers, shrubs, and trees native to the area, which provide the best forage such as:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Diverse blooms: Plant a variety of flowers that bloom consecutively from early spring through fall to ensure a constant food supply.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Bee favorites: Bees are attracted to lavender, marigolds, primrose, thyme, mint, and wildflowers.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Some <\/span>weeds<\/span><\/i>: Dandelions and clover are among the first and most essential food sources for bees in early spring.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Grouped plants: Plant in clusters rather than scattering them, as this makes it easier for bees to find food.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Bee 2\/B Green<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBees, Honey, and God<\/b><\/h2>\n
I know that bees are some of God\u2019s good creatures, and even though I probably wouldn\u2019t pet one, they are still gentle and very intelligent in their way. In the Bible, honey from bees is frequently mentioned as <\/span>a symbol of abundance, luxury, and divine favor<\/span>, most notably describing the Promised Land as \u201cflowing with milk and honey.\u201d It represents goodness, with God\u2019s words and wisdom described as \u201csweeter than honey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nDeuteronomy 26:9<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<\/b>And He hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.<\/span><\/p>\n
As a child, I was terrified of bees, or anything that would sting; however, I was a big fan of honey. Sweet, sticky honey on pancakes, waffles, French toast, and in hot tea! My grandfather lived to his 100th year and had a peanut butter and honey sandwich every day. He knew a secret\u2013honey has health benefits<\/a>:<\/p>\n Truth be told, whenever we got sick at home with a cold or flu, Grandma would mix us a cup of hot tea, honey, and whiskey. It worked!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n I also fondly remember my grandmother\u2019s special New Years Day treat: Struffoli.\u00a0 <\/i>They are a traditional Italian holiday treat made with flour, eggs, butter, and orange zest. The dough is shaped into marble-sized balls, deep-fried until golden, and tossed in a warm honey glaze\u2013oh, my! The memories! The thing is, those scrumptious memories could not have happened without the honey, and the honey could not have happened without the bees. [Struffoli recipe at the end of this article]\n<\/p> Over the years, as a gardener, I have learned to make my peace with the actual bee\u2013not just the product. They\u2019re important! \u201c<\/span>Bees are the <\/span>primary pollinators<\/span><\/a> for roughly 80% of flowering crops and plants<\/span>. By transferring pollen between blooms, bees ensure fertilization, leading to higher yields, larger fruits, and improved plant reproduction. Key crops like tomatoes, berries, cucumbers, and squash depend on their activity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In my mature years, I have often watched (from a distance) the rather barrel-shaped, fuzzy bodies of honey bees dancing from blossom to blossom in the Rose-of-Sharon or across the precut fields of dandelions. They seem almost merry in their labors!<\/span><\/p>\n Last summer though, I sadly noticed a drastically reduced population of bees in my garden. When I\u00a0 purchased honey from a friend and bee-keeper at Christmas, I mentioned that. She said that their bees had produced significantly less honey than in the past, and that it seemed to be a trend. I did some research and found that <\/span>\u201cIn January 2025, beekeepers across the country began reporting unexpected large-scale honey bee losses\u2014we now know the largest ever recorded in the U.S.,\u201d according to<\/span> Danielle Downey<\/span><\/a>, executive director of Project Apis. I also learned that, \u201c<\/span>managed honey bee colonies are facing unsustainable, high annual losses, <\/span>averaging around 40% in the U.S. due to a <\/span>combination of factors<\/span><\/a> including pests, pathogens (especially <\/span>Varroa<\/span><\/i> mites), pesticides, and poor nutrition<\/span>.\u201d It\u2019s weird, but the more I learned about the plight of the honey bees, the less frightening and the, well, <\/span>cuter <\/span><\/i>they became.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The reality is that, without bees, \u201c<\/span>global ecosystems and food production would face catastrophe. <\/mark><\/a>The loss would cause massive reductions in fruit, vegetable, and nut production, resulting in severe food shortages and higher prices. Many flowering plants would die, collapsing food chains, while the nutritional value of human diets\u201d would suffer.\u201d<\/p>\n It has also been claimed that \u201cThe safety of England depends on the number of cats she keeps. Without the aid of bumble-bees the red clover could not be fertilised. Bumble-bees make their nests on the ground, where they are the prey of mice. Cats destroy the mice and give the bees a chance to live. Hence, no cats, many mice; many mice, no bumble-bees; no bees, no clover; no clover, no cattle; no cattle, no beef; and without beef where would the Englishman be?\u201d\u2014Prof. W. W. Cooke\u2014(American Bee Journal<\/a>.)<\/p>\n In my research, I discovered that \u201c<\/span>honey bees are <\/span>not native<\/span><\/a> to North America<\/span>. They were brought over from Europe by settlers in the 1600s for honey and wax production. While crucial for modern agriculture, they are technically an introduced, managed species that competes with over 3,600 species of bees native to the continent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n I want to help those little immigrants!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Helping honey bees<\/span><\/a> involves <\/span>creating safe habitats, providing food sources, and eliminating chemical pesticides<\/span>. Gardeners should plant native, pollen-rich flowers, reduce lawn areas, and leave some wild, untended spaces for nesting. Essential steps also include providing a shallow water source, avoiding pesticides, and supporting local beekeepers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I Can <\/span>Plant a Bee-Friendly Garden<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n I can choose native plants\u2013flowers, shrubs, and trees native to the area, which provide the best forage such as:<\/span><\/p>\n I know that bees are some of God\u2019s good creatures, and even though I probably wouldn\u2019t pet one, they are still gentle and very intelligent in their way. In the Bible, honey from bees is frequently mentioned as <\/span>a symbol of abundance, luxury, and divine favor<\/span>, most notably describing the Promised Land as \u201cflowing with milk and honey.\u201d It represents goodness, with God\u2019s words and wisdom described as \u201csweeter than honey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Deuteronomy 26:9<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/b>And He hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Declining Bee Populations<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What can I do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Bees, Honey, and God<\/b><\/h2>\n