California’s Drought Resistant Bee Friendly Plants
California is in drought status indefinitely. As the summer comes to an end, it is the driest time of the year. During this season, Californians up and down the coast face the reality of high fire danger and very little water available for landscaping and gardening. However, savvy gardeners continue to find ways to plant things that can sustain through all the seasons of California’s complex climate. Gardeners embrace the challenge of finding flowering drought-resistant plants, offering bees and other pollinators extended opportunities to work away. The bee community continues to strengthen, and the forum to share information and knowledge provides an ideal way to connect with like-minded people.
California’s climates vary between the northern, southern, and central regions. The Central Valley is blessed with milder weather, more moisture, and breezes from the coast. The Central Valley’s climate provides some of the best wine, fruits, and vegetables in the nation due to the ease of growing different crops there. However, northern and southern couldn’t be more different, although both face low-water challenges. Southern California beekeepers and gardeners are always looking for environmentally friendly options that do not require much water to keep gardens thriving. A thriving garden means happy bees!
Russian Sage: A Bee Favorite
Scientific research shows that bees consistently choose Russian Sage in the top three of their favorite pollinating plants, and the bee community agrees. The good news is that Russian Sage does well in Southern California. Russian Sage also has longer blooms, allowing extended access.
Finding California-friendly and bee-friendly plants mean finding things that can have full sun and need little water. Russian Sage meets those requirements and is a large blooming plant adorning incredible purple flowers (similar to lavender blooms, they are often mistaken for each other). Because the beautiful Russian Sage is from central Asia, the dry and hot conditions don’t seem to bother them, and they indeed thrive with little water because they can reach six feet tall in hot and dry climates! Do not worry if that size seems a tad overwhelming. Spire versions stay between 2–4 feet at full growth, so even gardeners with confined space can still make room for them in the garden.
It is often misunderstood that drought-resistant landscaping must be brown and colorless. Russian Sage and its buddy, Echinacea, enjoy Southern California’s climate and provide lots of yummy stuff for the bees.
The Bee’s Needs
Although bees are incredibly adaptable and have an uncanny sense of smell, most Californians want to do their part to help them even more. Everyone is trying to keep the ecosystem healthy, especially in the face of fires and regrowth, which happen annually in California.
All living things require water to survive. Bees are strong and smart about getting what they need, even in extreme drought times. However, lending a hand and providing an easy water source is very helpful. Of course, if you can put it where they won’t disturb people and pets when they come to get water, that is best. So, place a bucket or a pie pan away from the house and regular activity — off the beaten path, as they say. Bees can find these water sources quickly, and if you provide them with something to perch upon (a stick, rock, or piece of sponge), they will have everything they need. The best part of this scenario is that the water doesn’t need to be changed or cleaned — bees like the water dirty, so maybe a refill periodically. This remains the easiest thing everyone can do to give the bees the water they require to survive.
Let It BEE
Bees have work to do, and it is critical people do not intervene or try to remove a hive mindlessly. Some people have dangerous allergies to bees, so if a hive is in an area that can be harmful to people or animals, it is best to have it relocated by a professional bee remover. There are excellent and highly qualified bee removal companies in Southern California, and they will happily help remove a hive that is in the way and find a new place for it in the community. Successful relocation can be significant in maintaining a healthy ecosystem overall.
If you live in California, none of this news about drought, dryness, and low water availability surprises you. If you are a southern California gardener and have not yet considered planting Russian Sage in your garden, you should. It is a beautiful and full plant that blooms pretty purple flowers, and the bees love it! Low-water, bee-friendly plants will pop up more often in private and public gardens as Californians again rise to the challenge! Since Russian Sage enjoys the full sun (which many blooming plants can’t handle well) and needs very little water, it is easy to grow, so even novice gardeners will succeed!
