FREEtoBEE

Click around and explore bee habitats to see how you can help. Those wings may be tiny but, oh, are they mighty. Nature’s beauty blossoms because of the timeless, tireless work of bees. Like the buzz created by the hive, there’s a hum to the holidays’ busy bustle. And fortunately, you’re not a dedicated drone maintaining our delicate ecosystem. Take a moment. Celebrate our pollinating friends. Then share the wonder – and just bee.

INTERACT. LEARN. ACT

PLANT A GARDEN

Click on any striped green rectangle - or an object in front of one - to create a habitat to help bees thrive. Move through the site by using the dots at the bottom of the screen, scroll with your mouse, or click and hold on the arrows at either side of the screen.

FIND A FACT

You’ll be greeted in each scene with fun objects in motion. Click on them to build your bee knowledge. Turn up the sound for the full experience.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Use what you’ve learned to create bee-friendly habitats in your own community.

QUEEN BEE

There is typically just one queen per colony. The queen’s long, narrow abdomen and short wings distinguish her among the 20,000 to 60,000 worker bees in the colony.

THE CROWN

Even though she carries a royal name, the queen does not rule over the colony. But that crown does have amazing perks. The worker bees not only wait upon her, but feed and protect her as well.

DRONE BEE

Drones are fertile male honey bees. Their primary role is to mate with a receptive queen honey bee, in order to ensure future generations of honey bees and, indeed, expansion and creation of colonies.

WORKER BEE

The workers are female and only live about 35 to 45 days, but make every moment count with a variety of tasks. Unfortunately, they only earn 70 cents on the dollar compared to male bees.

WONDER WOMAN

From cleaning the comb and making honey to storing pollen to protecting the hive from invaders – it’s no wonder the wings of a worker bee are literally worn out from their constant motion in and out of the hive.

HISTORY

Honey bees first appeared during the Cretaceous period about 130 million years ago. Honey gathering is even depicted in cave paintings that date back to the Paleolithic Age. Hipster cavemen often held artisanal honey tasting parties.

EGYPT

Egyptians floated bees down the river on rafts to allow them to pollinate different crops.

SPECIES

Though there are 20,000 species of bees, only a few make honey.

FRUITS OF LABOR

It takes one colony of honey bees (around 30,000) to pollinate an acre of fruit trees.

DON’T BE A PEST

Pesticides appear to play a key role in killing off the honey bee population.

FEELING HUNGRY

Bees polinate 1/3 of U.S. crops. A bee plays a role in nearly every bite you eat.

FLOWER POWER

Savor that honey – it doesn’t come easy. It takes about 60,000 bees, collectively traveling up to 55,000 miles and visiting more than 2 million flowers, to gather enough nectar for just one pound of honey.

BUSY BEES

Bees’ average flight speed is 15 mph, but they’re capable of 20 mph.

MONEYMAKERS

The annual value of pollination services worldwide is estimated at more than $125 billion.

BEES IN DANGER

In the last half decade, 30% of the national bee population has disappeared and nearly 1/3 of all bee colonies in the U.S. have perished.

FREQUENT FLIERS

Distance flown by a single bee to collect one pound of honey equals two trips around the Earth.

BUZZ THE NIGHT AWAY

Honey bees never sleep and their wings stroke 11,400 times per minute, creating their distinctive sound.

Save the bees at home

Plant bee-friendly

Marigolds, lilacs, honeysuckle and black-eyed Susans.
Herbs such as lavender and sage also draw them in.
Ask your local greenhouse what plants attract bees.
Plant pest repelling catnip, dill, mint and nasturtium.

Avoid pesticides

Opt for natural methods to control weeds and insects.
Corn gluten meal discourages weeds.
Cloves, vinegar or cayenne pepper ward off pests.
Oils from thyme, rosemary and mint can also be used.

Spray wisely

If you use pesticides, never spray on open blooms.
Wait for the blossoms to wither and drop to the ground.
Apply to leaves, stems and roots.
Spray on the ground instead of the plant.
Spray at night when the bees aren’t working.

Forget about a perfectly manicured yard

View weeds as natural food sources for pollinators.
Wait a week to mow those dandelions.

Enlist helpful bugs

Ladybugs, spiders and praying mantis get rid of pests.
One ladybug can eat up to 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.

Provide a water source

Bees get thirsty. Set out a basin of clean water.
A heated bird bath is a great source of fresh water.

Share the adventure

DOWNLOAD TIPS

While the holiday season arrives with a chill in the air, the promise of spring awaits. At Greteman Group, we look forward to all that will bloom in the year to come. We know you do, too. That’s why we’re making a donation to Botanica, the Wichita Gardens.

Bees and butterflies find sanctuary at Botanica. These and other pollinators draw upon nectar plants for food and drink from shallow water fountains, ponds and streams. Humans get sustenance here, too. Strolling through the wildflower meadows and canopied woodlands. Learning about nature and ways to protect it. Whether earthbound feet or gossamer wings carry you, magic happens throughout these 18 acres.

Gretemangroup.com | Botanica.org