"General Schvantzkoph" wrote in message
...
This is a follow on to the thread I started earlier about planting
birdseed. Cheap birdseed is a mixture of desirable (like sunflower) and
undesirable (like thistle) seeds so perhaps it makes more sense to plant
specific seeds that produce bee friendly flowers.

Besides sunflowers, what other cheap seeds will produce flowering plants
that bees will find attractive. The goal would be to have flowers
throughout from spring and summer, and into the fall if possible, that
will attract and support the local bee population. If you were a bee
checking the Bee OpenTable for restaurants, what would you like to see on
the menu?


Have a look at Monarda (bee balm). Budlea(butterfly bush) is a woody shrub,
but it self sows freely. Don't turn the henbit under until the bees get a
chance at it. Bees love mint flowers but it taints the honey. The plant that
covers more of the season is clover. Add some white Dutch seeds to your
lawn, toss some tall clover seed into those edge areas along with the
buckwheat. Having bees visit your property means larger crops.