Herbs to Attract Bees

You have 3 years left to save the planet! The very survival of bees is under threat - this tireless army pollinates our crops and without them, life would be very different indeed. Studies have shown that urban bees are doing better than country bees and one of the main reasons, is the diversity of gardens, window boxes and pots which give bees a virtual year round source of food. In the country, monoculture is starving bees, one crop flowering for three weeks or so over thousands of acres creates a feast and famine situation. Herbs are perfect for bees, they are highly recommended by Beekeeping Associations and this book lists the best ones for you to grow to support the bee population. They have a fairly long flowering season, starting with Rosemary in February/March and continuing through to October. You don't need a huge amount of space to grow a few herbs and you will get a useful crop to use for yourself, either in cooking, a remedy or cosmetic. Under each entry is a description, cultivation tips, interesting information along with culinary, medicinal and cosmetic uses and a 'Rescue Remedy' for the herb - what to do if it looks a bit sick, how to revive it and maintain it. Then, there is a section on making the remedies and cosmetics, bath salts, body scrubs, teas, tisanes, tinctures and many more. A section on preserving herbs tells you how to keep them for out of season use, when to harvest and the best methods. A list of around 150 trees, shrubs and plants which are 'bee friendly' is supplied for those with larger plots. You'd be amazed how many of these plants are easy to grow and attract butterflies and other wild life. No book about bees would be complete without some advice about coping with bee stings, so that comes next. Last but not least, is a Gardening Glossary - an explanation of gardening terms that we all had to learn at some point. How to take cuttings, sow seeds, test for viability, pot on, divide and many more instructions and definitions.