Saving the Bees: Celebrate World Bee Day - the Heroes of Our Ecosystem - by Creating a Buzz!
- The Bioregulatory Medicine Institute
- Apr 24
- 4 min read
James Odell, OMD, ND, LAc
Honoring World Bee Day: Why Bees Matter and How You Can Help
Every year on May 20th, people around the globe pause to celebrate World Bee Day—a day that holds special meaning for many, including myself. This international observance, is dedicated to raising awareness about the vital role bees and other pollinators play in our ecosystems and food systems. It’s a time to reflect on the challenges bees face and to inspire action to protect these remarkable creatures.
The Essential Role of Honeybees
Honeybees are much more than just producers of honey. They are the unsung heroes of agriculture and biodiversity. Nearly 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators like bees for reproduction, making bees indispensable to the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oils. Without bees, our food supply would be drastically diminished, and the vibrant tapestry of life that surrounds us would fade.
Their pollination efforts extend beyond farms and gardens. By helping plants reproduce and thrive, bees support entire ecosystems. The fruits, nuts, and seeds they help generate become food for wildlife and humans alike, while trees and shrubs offer shelter to countless creatures. Bees are truly at the heart of our ecosystem’s balance and functionality.
A Crisis in the Hive: The Decline of Bees
Despite their importance, honeybee populations have been declining at an alarming rate in recent decades. The causes are complex and interconnected: habitat loss, intensive farming practices, pesticide exposure—especially from neonicotinoids—climate change, and environmental pollution all play a role. These threats not only endanger bees but also put our food security and natural landscapes at risk.
A 2021 report found that American honeybee populations had decreased by as much as 89%. The loss of bees is a warning sign that our environment is in distress, and it’s a call to action for us all.
Bees: Providers of More Than Pollination
Beyond their ecological contributions, bees provide us with an array of valuable products. Honey, pollen, propolis, venom, beeswax, and royal jelly each offer unique nutritional and medicinal benefits. Royal jelly is prized for its healing properties, propolis is used to treat allergies and gastrointestinal issues, and bee venom has shown promise in alleviating chronic pain and inflammation. These gifts from the hive enrich our lives in countless ways.
10 Flowers That Feed and Sustain Bees
One of the most effective ways to support bees is by planting flowers that provide them with nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. Here are ten excellent plants that are beloved by bees and help sustain their populations:
Pansies: Blooming early in spring, pansies provide vital nourishment when few other flowers are available.
Cornflowers: Rich in nectar, cornflowers are among the highest-ranked flowers for bee survival.
Calendula: A versatile flower that attracts pollinators, repels pests, and thrives in poor conditions. Bees love its easy landing petals and rich pollen and nectar.
Cosmos: Their open flowers make pollen and nectar easily accessible. Cosmos tolerate hot sun and poor soil and reseed generously.
Zinnias: Easy to grow with heavy blooms in vibrant colors, zinnias attract honeybees, bumblebees, and solitary bees alike.
Phlox: Known for attracting honeybees and bumblebees, phlox blooms for several weeks with vibrant colors and a strong aroma.
Black-eyed Susans: These bright yellow flowers produce abundant nectar and pollen, making them favorites of honeybees and bumblebees.
Bee Balm: A magnet for bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, bee balm offers long-lasting spikes of color and nectar.
Catmint: With a long blooming period, catmint provides nectar from late spring through fall, attracting various bee species.
Oregano: This fragrant herb is irresistible to bees and doubles as a delicious seasoning for cooking.
Planting these flowers creates a buzzing oasis that supports pollinators and enhances garden beauty.
Additional Ways to Help Bees
Avoid Pesticides: Broad-spectrum insecticides, especially neonicotinoids, are harmful to bees. These chemicals are systemic and contaminate nectar and pollen.
Provide Safe Water: Create bee baths by filling shallow containers with water and pebbles to give bees a safe place to drink.
Support Local Beekeepers: Buying local honey helps sustain beekeepers who protect and nurture bee populations.
Spread Awareness: Educate friends and family about the importance of bees and advocate for pollinator-friendly practices.
A Call to Action
World Bee Day is more than a celebration—it’s a reminder that the fate of bees is intertwined with our own. By making conscious choices in our gardens, supporting sustainable agriculture, and spreading the word, we can help ensure that bees continue to thrive for generations to come.
Lastly, if possible please donate to: Save The Bees USA
For more information on the use of bee products visit the following links on the BRMI website:
Let’s honor the humble honeybee, not just today, but every day, by nurturing the world they help sustain. Together, we can keep the buzz alive and protect the delicate balance of our planet’s ecosystems.
Bioregulatory medicine is a total body (and mind) approach to health and healing that aims to help facilitate and restore natural human biological processes. It is a proven, safe, gentle, highly effective, drugless, and side-effect-free medical model designed to naturally support the body to regulate, adapt, regenerate, and self-heal. BRMI is a non-commercial 501(c)(3) foundation and will expand and flourish with your support. Our goal is to make bioregulatory medicine a household term.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct care of a qualified health practitioner who oversees and provides unique and individualized care. The information provided here is to broaden our different perspectives and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.