How to "Bee" active helping hives survive
The latest buzz is that we need bees to pollinate more than 100 crops. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey, Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis)
(NAPSI)-The food producer responsible for one of every three bites the average American eats is in crisis, and more than half of Americans are not even aware there is a problem. Over the past several winters, more than 25 percent of the honey bee population in the United States has vanished. Everything from poor nutrition to invasive mites to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)--a phenomenon where bees from a colony abruptly disappear, leaving no trace--is affecting the bee population. This disappearance has scientists stumped and has the potential to affect many of our favorite fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
A world without the hardworking honey bee is a world without tasty pears, luscious raspberries and crunchy nuts. In fact, honey bees are responsible for the pollination of more than 100 crops, providing 80 percent of the country’s pollination services. Without the help of honey bees in crop pollination, an estimated $15 billion in U.S. agriculture is in jeopardy affecting both U.S. and international food supplies.
The plight of the honey bee affects us all. Here are some small steps you can take to help save these petite pollinators:
- Create a bee-friendly garden--See the five simple tips to learn more.
- Voice your concerns and go to www.helpthehoneybees.com.
- Support Häagen-Dazs Brand ice cream products--a portion of the proceeds of the sale of all honey bee-affected flavors and new Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream will go toward funding sustainable pollination and CCD research at UC Davis and Penn State.
- Choose garden plants and flowers that are pollinator-friendly. This includes most plants in the rose, mint, pea and aster families.
- Select flowers that have a single layer of flower petals, such as a classic daisy.
- Add non-native plants to your garden to create diversity. Plus, many non-native varieties are excellent, attractive and vigorous plants that provide food for bees and pollinators.
- Look for flowers that provide food all season. Plant some early flowering plants, along with mid-and late-season flowers. Late-season flowers like goldenrod and aster are especially important.
- Provide a good environment. Limit, or better still, eliminate the use of pesticides, particularly on attractive plants with open flowers.
Trees can help reduce energy costs-and more
(NAPSI)-Trees can provide a home with more than shade and shelter. They can also add value and curb appeal to a home, help cool it and break the cold winds to help lower heating costs.
Consider these economic benefits from the Arbor Day Foundation:- In one study, 83 percent of realtors believe that mature trees have a “strong or moderate impact” on the salability of homes listed for under $150,000. With homes over $250,000, this perception increases to 98 percent.
- Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent.
- Properly placed, trees can reduce air-conditioning needs by as much as 30 percent and can cut 20 to 50 percent in energy-related heating costs.
Selecting trees and proper positioning are keys to putting more money in your wallet. For example, a row of evergreen trees can help block wind. Consider cherry laurel, Eastern red cedar, hemlock, Japanese black pine, Monterey or Norway spruce, Southern magnolia, and white or spruce pines. Check with your local nursery or cooperative extension office for the best species for your area.
Properly placed, trees can reduce air-conditioning needs by as much as 30 percent and can cut 20 to 50 percent in energy--related heating costs.
Place trees strategically in the yard, such as on the east- and west-facing sides of the home. Shading windows is important. Give yourself plenty of growth space between tree and house--10 feet or more.
“Trees can last a lifetime, but protecting them is vital,” says Bayer Advanced™ Garden Expert Lance Walheim, the author of more than 30 gardening books, including “Landscaping for Dummies.” In fact, according to the Michigan Entomological Society, insects kill more trees in the United States than fire, disease, wind, flooding and drought combined.
Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Protect & Feed Granules with MERIT® protects your trees for up to 12 months. The slow-release fertilizer is designed to keep feeding a tree for up to three months.
Throughout spring 2008, Bayer Advanced, in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, will donate up to 100,000 trees or one tree for each bottle of product sold to restore U.S. national forests.
You can learn more by visiting www.bayeradvanced.com or by calling 1-877-BAYERAG. Always read and follow the label instructions.
