Dandelions Are Our Friends, Especially To Honey Bees

When most people see a dandelion poking up through a crack in the sidewalk or spreading across their lawn, their first thought is usually to pull it out.

But what many don’t realize is that these sunny little flowers play a critical role in supporting one of the planet’s most important pollinators, the honey bee.

Dandelions are often labeled as weeds, but they’re actually incredibly beneficial plants. One of their greatest strengths is how early they bloom. Dandelions are some of the first flowers to appear, offering nectar and pollen to pollinators long before most other plants have woken up for the season.

For honey bees, who are just emerging from a long winter of living off stored honey, dandelions are like nature’s breakfast buffet. Their bright yellow blooms are easy to spot and rich in nutrients. While dandelions aren’t the most nutrient-dense flower compared to others, their early availability makes them vital when options are limited.

Honey bees are more than just honey-makers. They are pollinators, helping fertilize roughly one third of the food we eat. From apples and almonds to blueberries and cucumbers, bees help plants reproduce by transferring pollen from flower to flower. Without them, our diets, and ecosystems would look very different.

However, honey bees are facing a lot of challenges: habitat loss, pesticides, disease, and climate change are all taking a toll. This makes it even more important to support them in any way we can, including by the letting dandelions grow.

What you can do

Here are some tips to help honey bees:

• Rethink your lawn — Consider letting a section of your yard go a little wild. A few dandelions in the grass can make a world of difference for pollinators.

• Plant with pollinators in mind — In addition to dandelions, include native flowers, herbs, and shrubs that bloom at different times of the year to provide a steady food source.

• Go pesticide-free — Avoid using herbicides and insecticides that can harm bees and other beneficial insects.

• Educate others — The more people know about the benefits of dandelions and bees, the more likely we are to see positive changes in how we treat our green spaces.

Dandelions may be small and common, but they’re far from useless. By supporting early pollinators like honey bees, these golden blooms help kick-start the chain of life that brings color to our gardens and food to our tables.

So next time you see a dandelion, maybe don’t reach for the weed killer. Let it shine, for the bees.

Want to learn more about honey bees?

If you are interested in learning more about the fabulous honey bee, come to the next monthly meeting of the Davy Crockett Beekeepers Association. You don’t have to be a beekeeper to attend, if you are a beginning beekeeper or thinking about getting started in beekeeping we have a beginners question-and-answer session before each meeting.

The Davy Crockett Beekeepers Association meets the third Monday of each month, hosted by the Towering Oaks Baptist Church located at 1985 Buckingham Road, in Greeneville.

The April 21 meeting topic will be a round-table discussion regarding catching, keeping, caring for and treating swarms.

The beginners Q&A starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the group’s regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Everyone is welcome and there is no cost associated with attending.

For additional details or to sign up for the course, contact LeighAnn Brink at DCBAbuzz@yahoo.com .

Additional information about the organization is also available on the Davy Crockett Beekeepers Association Facebook page.