Are you “busy as a bee?”

I’m sure you are! With kiddos, careers, swim lessons, home renovations etc. I’m sure you’re “buzzing around” a lot! You’ve got fun and important things to do, so I’ll keep this blog short and to the point… here we go!

Imagine this…

You’re tired from a long day of work and errands. On your way home you pass a sign that says: “Free Spa/Buffet for Parents”. You decide to check it out and…wow! You’re welcomed into a beautiful palace, whisked away to a quiet, spacious garden where you relax and listen to a small waterfall. A waiter brings you your absolute favorite snack on a golden platter. Your favorite album plays at the perfect volume in the background as you sink into a state of zen…this is the life!

Sounds nice, right?

You can make that happen! In this month’s nature newsletter you read about Queen Fuzzbuzz, our favorite bumblebee queen puppet from nature class. Right now, all over Ohio, bumblebee queens are sleeping under the leaves. When they wake up, they’ll need some serious food before they can get busy pollinating all your favorite foods (such as tomatoes, blueberries, squash, watermelons etc etc).

That’s where your house comes in! That spa we imagined a minute ago? You can create one for Queen Fuzzbuzz (and, actually, yourself) in your own backyard! The right Ohio-native (meant to grow here) flowers can make all the difference for bumblebee mamas on the run… er, on the buzz? No, that doesn’t sound right.

Why?

Why should you try to help bumblebees by planting Ohio-native flowers?

1. Bumblebees are the best and most-efficient pollinators of lots of our food, including many fruits and veggies you may be trying to grow yourself!

2. Bumblebees are busy parents trying to raise babies and do their part just like you

3. Bumblebees are actually NOT aggressive and really only sting if you dig into a nest or squeeze them… so, don’t do that.

4. There are NO documented cases of wild bumblebees ever causing allergic reactions from stings… that’s honeybees.

5. Flowers for bumblebees will also help: butterflies, ladybugs, songbirds and more!

6. Showing your kiddos how to help animals/the planet is important!

7. Your native garden will be beautiful and a great “spa” for your family, too! Think how fun it will be to explore the garden and meet all the animal brothers and sisters with your kiddos!

Great! So… how?

(In case you’re wondering: yes I did just discover the animated underline feature!)

There are 3 main ways to host a “surprise party” for Queen Fuzzbuzz and her sisters when they wake up in Spring:

1. Hire a native plant landscaper to install a garden for you

   I highly recommend Peter Harrington of Native Landscaping & Consulting, LLC. He’s done work for multiple BFA schools and families. He’s fast, affordable, and knows what he’s doing. In a few short hours he can come in, prepare the site, plant it, clean it up and BAM: beautiful bumblebee banquet is served! If you decide to check him out, tell him Jared from Balanced Family Academy sent you!

2. Buy your own native plants and plant them yourself

   Our native plant partner Patty Shipley owns Leaves for Wildlife Nursery in Sunbury. She will have “Team Fuzzbuzz Packs” available for purchase in April. These bumblebee-specific native flowers will look great and get the party going!

   Another recently-discovered option: My Home Park. You find a garden design you like, order it and you’ll have up to 100 native flower plants shipped to you beginning in May. You’ll have to plant these yourself, but the price is great!

3. Grow your own bumblebee flowers from seeds… in a milkjug!

   I love this method! Called “Winter Sowing”, you simply cut a milkjug in half, poke some drain holes in the bottom, fill with 3-4” of potting soil, then plant your seeds. After that, take the cap off, tape the top and bottom back together and set it outside where it’s shaded but can get rain in the top. Come Spring you’ll see baby plants growing in your mini-greenhouse and can transplant once they have 2 sets of leaves! This method takes the most effort and supplies, I’d be happy to help you through specifics (just RSVP below).

   Checkout local Clintonville company Return To Sender paper co.’s blog post on how to do this (and checkout her amazing other sustainable products!)

Your next step…

Here’s what you do now:

1. RSVP to the surprise party here!

2. Watch my Queen Fuzzbuzz song for ideas of what plants we’re talking about

3. Follow me on Instagram for more nature-y goodness (@jaredthenatureguy)

And that’s it! Excited to plan some parties with you all! Buzz buzz!