National Honey Bee Day: Let's Help Them Thrive
Every August, National Honey Bee Day rolls around! A sweet reminder of how much these little pollinators do for us. In Iowa, that work is especially important. Honey bees don’t just make honey; they pollinate everything from apple trees to alfalfa, helping to sustain our food supply and our prairies.
But honey bee populations are struggling, and one major reason is colony collapse disorder, a mysterious phenomenon where most of the worker bees in a colony disappear, leaving behind only the queen, a few nurse bees, and stored food. While scientists believe it’s caused by a combination of pesticides, habitat loss, parasites, and climate change, the reality is simple: bees need safe places to forage, and they’re running out of them.
The good news? You don’t have to be a beekeeper to help. You just have to plant the right flowers.
Bee-Friendly Flowers for Iowa Gardens
If you live in Iowa, these native plants will not only make your yard look stunning, but they’ll provide nectar and pollen for bees from early spring through fall.
Small Changes, Big Impact
You don’t need a huge prairie to make a difference, just a corner of your yard, a garden bed, or even large pots on your porch. A few tips for making your bee-friendly planting even more effective:
Plant in clusters so bees can forage efficiently.
Choose a variety that blooms from spring through fall.
Avoid pesticides, even small amounts can harm pollinators.
Add shrubs or trees like redbud, dogwood, willow, or serviceberry for shelter and early blooms.
Why It’s Good for You, Too
Beyond the environmental benefits, many of these blooms add a burst of color and texture that looks beautiful in photographs. Tall purple coneflowers swaying in the breeze, bright clusters of milkweed, or the feathery stems of goldenrod can make portraits feel more natural, vibrant, and connected to the season. So whether you’re planting for the bees or for a family photo backdrop (or both) you’ll be adding beauty to your space in more ways than one.
Why It Matters Here in Iowa
Iowa’s farmland is vast, but large monocultures mean bees often struggle to find consistent food. By planting pollinator-friendly flowers in backyards, community spaces, and even roadside ditches, we create safe foraging stops.
This National Honey Bee Day, I’m planting a few more blooms for the bees. It’s a small act, but if enough of us do it, we can help keep Iowa buzzing for years to come!
What’s in your garden for the bees this year? Drop your favorites in the comments, I’m always looking for new plants to add to my list!
Note: All plant photos in this post are for illustrative purposes only and are not my own. Credits to their respective photographers.