April meeting recap — Pollinator gardens that bees actually use

April's monthly meeting was the best-attended of the year so far. The featured talk: pollinator gardens that bees actually use.

Topic of the night

Lisa walked through six plants her bees actually work hard, vs. six pretty plants in the same yard that they completely ignore. Surprise winners: clover (yes, the lawn weed) and crimson borage. Surprise losers: most of the showy nursery-marketed "bee mix" annuals.

Q&A highlights

• What to plant if you have shade — wild bergamot does fine; most other "bee plants" don't.
• How to talk to your HOA about a less-mowed back yard. (Short answer: print a Xerces Society pamphlet.)
• Why honeybees aren't really the conservation story — natives are. Plant for natives; your honeybees will be fine.

Coming up

Next month: hive inspection workshop at Apu's apiary. Bring a veil if you have one. There's a calendar entry — RSVP at the meeting so we know how many to expect.