Over de bijen en de bloemen. Planten voor de honingbijen voor een tuin vol gezoem

by Sarah Wyndham Lewis

Wereldwijd zijn er ongeveer 25.000 verschillende soorten bijen, waarvan slechts zeven soorten honingbijen, en van hen hangt veel af. Het grootste deel van de planten die voedsel leveren aan de mens en andere levende wezens wordt door hen bestoven. Maar honingbijen hebben het in onze tijd niet gemakkelijk, ze zijn bedreigd doordat steeds meer groen - bloemen, planten, struiken en bomen - verdwijnt. Wij kunnen hen helpen.

Over de bijen en de bloemen is een heerlijk, prachtig geïllustreerd boek vol informatie en inspirerende ideeën om je dak, muur, terras, balkon of tuin voor honingbijen aantrekkelijk te maken, of je nu een ervaren tuinier bent of een echte beginner.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Nature, Plants, Animals, Environment, Reference

143 pages, Hardcover

First published February 22, 2018

Reviews

[Coriander · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated but really just a list of plants to plant, not a lot about bees, or much detail about gardening or tips on how to get these plants to grow. Which is something I've had trouble with; honestly I was hoping for a lot more information. I knew some of the information presented already. I wish the author would have shared more about herself and the experiences that lead her to write this book. Some pages were literally just plant names, no summaries, characteristics or the ideal planting place for the plants or anything. This book is beautiful, but don't come to this book looking for masses of information. And also since the author is based in Britain and a lot of her resources are based in Britain and are not quite as applicable for American readers. Although a good book if you are a beginner, this book covers the basics.

[Karen Rós · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a pretty book - beautifully produced and illustrated. It's also exactly what it says on the tin: a guide to which plants (from flowers and herbs to shrubs and trees) to plant to feed honeybees and other pollinators, all designed for the space you have (windowsill to huge garden). The book also debunks a few things (wildflowers aren't the be-all-end-all for bees) and tells you delightful facts about bees. I really enjoyed reading it, but mostly I'm looking forward to planting my own bee-friendly garden eventually! 🌼🐝

[Omelia Legg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book 😍 Anyone who loves bees and has a garden should pick this up and have a read. It follows all the seasons and things to plant no matter what kind of outdoor space you have (and it's just so pretty). This is going on my Christmas list for sure.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction into what to plant in your garden that will attract and sustain honeybees. This book touched on how honeybees make honey, use pollen and maintain a colony as well as the flowers and plants that they prefer. As an amateur beekeeper I found the book contained a lot of information that I already knew but also a good share of useful facts I didn’t know. This book is a perfect primer for those interested in helping out our essential honeybees!

[Becki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and very informative!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those illustrations were absolutely beautiful. I'm very excited for this garden season 😀

[Sarah Bodin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction. Pretty to look at but more research will be necessary for pollinator gardening.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very easy to read guide for planting for honeybees. The author talks about why planting for honeybees is important, the history of humans and honeybees, what bees get from these plants, recommended plants, facts about honeybees, and further resources. I really like that in the chapter on "planting recommendations" she breaks it down from windowsill gardens, patios, and all the way to large gardens. She even covers rooftop gardens and "living walls." She also then further breaks down the suggested plants by season (when they would be in bloom for the bees). It's a very pretty book too with lots of beautiful illustrations. This could be a great book to own and refer back to over time as you want to add more or have the opportunity for a larger garden space. The only downside is that the author is from the UK, so all the resources she recommends are in or from the UK. I would just be sure if you're in the US that you make sure the flower/plant recommendations would work in your geographic area.

[Mmfniteowl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful little book that gives interesting details about honeybees, hives and making of honey. Also, the best plants for various places. Lots of delightful illustrations in this book.
Why do bee hives emit the hum we hear in a summer hive? Nectar brought into the hive contains up to 80% water. To prevent fermentation and create honey stores receiver bees need to work to evaporate the water. These bees bring up a drop of nectar from their honey sacs and then roll in in their mouths so that nectar is exposed to the air to dry. More drops of nectar are added until the drop is the right size and consistency to be put in a honeycomb cell. Finally, they fan their wings to evaporate further excess water from the cells to take the moisture level to about 17 %. The sound of the bees' wings acting as a giant fan is the source of the hum we hear. Finally, they seal the cell with a beeswax capping . Safe from air and water, the honey inside will last indefinitely.
This is just one of the fascinating tidbits in the life of a bee.
Fascinating how nature works.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful little book that’s fun to read. Each chapter is proceeded by colorful, illustrated changeover pages pertaining to its subject matter and the illustrations throughout are gorgeous and made for a joyful reading experience. It’s well-organized with brief, straightforward chapters that provide a solid overview of the basics around how bees forage and planting to sustain bees. Included are plant suggestions for different sized/types of gardens, organized by bloom season; a top 10 list of plants by type (e.g. flowers, climbers, trees, shrubs); and a more comprehensive list of bee-friendly (and -unfriendly) plants. At the end is a list of resources, including some for those who might want to make a difference in their communities beyond a personal garden. The author is from London so much of the information is directed to those living in the UK but easily transferable or still helpful to those elsewhere.

[Agata · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good guide into foraging habits of honeybees. The author paid a special attention to describing plants that honeybees find particularly attractive with a careful distinction between each time of year.

The book reads beautifully and truly shows author’s passion about honeybees. I appreciated how she tries to provide encouragement and practical knowledge that can be used in any, even the smallest or most unusual garden/green space.

I liked the short paragraphs providing additional information about honeybees and their habits, life cycle and physiology. I’d prefer this to be discussed at much greater depth but I still enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it to anyone interested in wildlife.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work at a greenhouse and the information I learned in this book will help me guide customers and gardeners to the best plants for the bees. I thought I wouldn't get much out of this book but wow I was wrong! The thing I loved the most was that the author included different plants for different sizes and kinds of gardens! The only thing I wish it had covered a little more was zoning. This can, in my experience, be something that's difficult for people to keep in mind when planting their gardens.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This UK-centric book is a relatively quick read but a good introduction to planting to attract honeybees. Lots of great resources for those based in the U.K. in the end matter. As a US person I still got a lot of good info, which was delivered in an easy conversational style, accompanied by absolutely gorgeous illustrations by James Weston Lewis. It’s the kind of book I’d like to add to my collection if only because it’s so pretty.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute little book. Readers in the United States should keep in mind that this book was written in England and should be taken at face value. Some of the plants listed in the book would be invasive in the United States like Golden Rain Tree, Chinese wisteria, etc. As with anything, always do research before planting anything instead of blindly following just one book. This is a good book, though.

[Jenny Garrison-Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. I purchased it to learn more about planting to encourage honeybees around our area. Instead i found myself fascinated with honeybees. It was easy to understand. I will bring it with me to the garden shop. It’s also one of those pretty books that would look beautiful anywhere in your home.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, easy, and quick read! She does a great job of break things down to the basics, and explains hiw anyone can plant just a little bit to help honey bees. Perfect for beginners just wanting to explore the topic a bit, yet still provides resources that if one becomes interested, they can pursue the topic further!

[Jasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is very beautifully illustrated and contains a huge list of plants for bees. I liked the different options depending on the space you have to plant things on. But sadly some of the suggestions are invasive plants which are really bad for a healthy biodiversity. So please research the plants before buying them. They might be good for the bees but terrible for the environment in general.

[Patrice Doten · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of honeybee foraging needs and habits, as well as lists of bee-friendy flowering plants, trees, and shrubs for a variety of growing spaces (including patios and pots). Readers will not find instructions for beekeeping or gardening here - both are outside this book's scope - but it's a handy reference for gardeners looking to expand their plantings to help support bee populations.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another little wildlife book to help me re-wild the garden... This time with a focus on Honeybees. 🥰 As with the bird version I really enjoyed this one as well it is full of tips and ideas to help bees to thrive in the garden. There's also lots of facts about bees themselves and how they work which was cool. A lovely quick read for anyone who loves wildlife. 🐝

[Jordan Volpi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoy short little books like this one: detailed and easy to read! I especially enjoyed the facts this book had to offer :) I tend to be scared of bees, but this book helped me feel a bit less scared and more inclined to help the bees when they are drowning in our pool. Save the bees!

[Miranda Small · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent AND beautiful overview/reference book to guide you in choosing bee-friendly plants. I learned so much! Like that bee’s see the blue end of the light spectrum best, so color of flowers is important. The illustrations are so cute, I would purchase prints of them! Very easy to read.

[Callista · Rating 4 out of 5]

important, concise, and cute.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

British-based, but v. much enjoyed.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely put together. I thought the way they divided the plants into types of gardens and times of year was helpful! I’ll be using this as a resource to set up a garden at my new place!

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this darling of a book. Colorful images and great tips for gardens of all sizes. Save the bees! Plant for pollinators :)

[Brian Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet little book. Quick read, easy reference, beautiful cover.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick easy read and a book I will keep with me. It is a great reference for planting design, a good history lesson on the evolution of honeybees, and even some science behind their incredible lives!

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations

[Chloe Hooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little read with some good ideas for planting for bees. I borrowed from the library but would be a good one to have on the bookshelf.

[Nathan Brant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first book when considering plantings for honeybees.