A bee-friendlier garden

There's serious debate about the disappearance of so many honeybees, major pollinators of fruits and flowers. Writing in Salon, Kevin Berger puts it this way: "If the tireless apian workers didn't fly from one flower to the next, depositing pollen grains so that fruit trees can bloom, America could well be asking where its next meal would come from." While the experts debate the reasons for the shrinking population, the rest of us can do what we can to encourage more bees in our gardens – unless you or family members are allergic to bee stings.

There are thousands of separate bee species in America. Even though most do not produce honey, they earn their keep in pollinating service. What do they contribute to a garden? They make it healthier, livelier, more interesting, and more productive of fruit and flowers.

Before going any further, let's point you toward a terrific resource: the Urban Bee Project at UC Berkeley.

How to encourage more bees in your garden?

• Start by planting things that will be attractive to bees. Check out the Bee Project's recommendations for plants that will do well in your area. In my garden, I can attest that bees love blooming lavender.
• Create as much plant diversity as possible.
• Plan your plantings to bloom over a long season – so there will always be flowers.
• Keep in mind bees' preferences: no mulch (bees tunnel into bare soil) and a slightly wild look. How far you go with calculated neglect is up to you. This is not permission to refrain from weeding and mulching your garden.

If you are concerned about getting stung, see the tips from Urban Bee Project. You'll learn that bees are defensive, not aggressive, that males don't have stingers, and much more.