The Celina Garden Club welcomed Save The Bees USA to its June 2024 meeting in North Texas. Members wanted to know which bees visit their gardens and what those bees need to thrive. After lunch, everyone gathered with the observation hive for the group photo above.
What the Celina Garden Club learned about local bees
Shanon and James opened with the story of how Save The Bees USA began. They introduced the different bees a gardener might see in Collin County, including honey bees, bumblebees and leafcutter bees. The group also talked about local beekeeping.
One question ties those bees together. After a bee leaves a flower, where does it go? A honey bee worker returns to a colony. A leafcutter bee may carry pieces of leaf into a narrow cavity to line cells for her young. Bumblebees raise workers in a colony, often in a sheltered place near the ground. A garden can provide both flowers and places to nest.
Bee-friendly gardening at home
Look at a flower bed from early spring through fall. Which plants flower first? When the first flowers fade, what opens next? Choosing locally suited plants with different bloom times can help bees find pollen and nectar across the season. A corner with leaf litter, undisturbed soil or old stems can also provide shelter.
These are questions a family or garden club can explore without opening a hive. For example, choose one flowering plant and watch for five minutes. Notice which insects land and where they touch the flower. Then compare notes with a neighbor. Our free bee education activities offer more ways to get started.
Learning beyond the monthly meeting
For the Celina Garden Club, education continues in the community. The club supports the Garden of Oz at Celina Elementary School and features local gardens on its tour. Thank you to the members who shared lunch, asked questions and welcomed us to the meeting. Learn about the Celina Garden Club’s garden tour.