People have so much to learn about bees and dandelions. This is just another example of human blindness. Whether we are born with such blind spots and develop them to navigate our over stimulating environs .... I will let someone else figure out. Meanwhile, I am loving young May dandelion greens in my salads and adding them finely chopped along with Parsley and Mint to top my soups and such. As to bees, they have a whole world of behaviors between their many varieties that keep them occupied in ways that few humans seem to see. Some live only a few weeks while their preferred flowering plant is available in the very early spring. While others commit war on any intruding bee they happen upon. Others sleep overnight in their favorite flowers such as comfrey, or delphinium to get an early start on the day. I tend to high mow alternating areas of my large lumpy lawn composed of many types of grasses, clover, wild strawberry, many types of dandelions, and many other low growing ground covers such as sheep's sorrel and chick weed. I try to mow when the bees are not likely to be out (early morning or late evening and grey cool days) and as I say to alternate portions being mowed to always have something they like in bloom. As a kid, a neighbor woman paid kids a penny a pop for dandelion flowers to make dandelion wine. And some kids were paid to separate the yellow petals from the greens. We were too young to taste the treat, but I heard that it was enjoyed by some adults.
Full agreement on the importance of your post. I live in a small subdivision that requires lawn care. In summer, twice per month. Lovers of monoculture are on board. I take a couple steps to compensate. No use of any insecticides or pesticides. Supporting (water) a bower of wonderful gardenias that a previous owner planted. Planting of native species. Perennial flowering species that flower throughout the summer, along with native shrubs and trees that also flower. As understory plants, watering is almost never required.
People have so much to learn about bees and dandelions. This is just another example of human blindness. Whether we are born with such blind spots and develop them to navigate our over stimulating environs .... I will let someone else figure out. Meanwhile, I am loving young May dandelion greens in my salads and adding them finely chopped along with Parsley and Mint to top my soups and such. As to bees, they have a whole world of behaviors between their many varieties that keep them occupied in ways that few humans seem to see. Some live only a few weeks while their preferred flowering plant is available in the very early spring. While others commit war on any intruding bee they happen upon. Others sleep overnight in their favorite flowers such as comfrey, or delphinium to get an early start on the day. I tend to high mow alternating areas of my large lumpy lawn composed of many types of grasses, clover, wild strawberry, many types of dandelions, and many other low growing ground covers such as sheep's sorrel and chick weed. I try to mow when the bees are not likely to be out (early morning or late evening and grey cool days) and as I say to alternate portions being mowed to always have something they like in bloom. As a kid, a neighbor woman paid kids a penny a pop for dandelion flowers to make dandelion wine. And some kids were paid to separate the yellow petals from the greens. We were too young to taste the treat, but I heard that it was enjoyed by some adults.
Full agreement on the importance of your post. I live in a small subdivision that requires lawn care. In summer, twice per month. Lovers of monoculture are on board. I take a couple steps to compensate. No use of any insecticides or pesticides. Supporting (water) a bower of wonderful gardenias that a previous owner planted. Planting of native species. Perennial flowering species that flower throughout the summer, along with native shrubs and trees that also flower. As understory plants, watering is almost never required.
Thanks for promoting awareness and action.