The Bee’s Knees

By | June 9, 2019

By Judy Broom

And you thought you knew bees.  Until David Jennings started talking about bumblebees. If you missed the May 28 docent meeting (2019) or if you attended and want to know more about these fascinating creatures, which are so important to our planet, here are some links to more information about native pollinators and their role in our gardens and on our earth.

 If you’re interested enough to read about bumblebees and other native bees, there are several recently published books available online or from your favorite bookseller.

  • A Sting in the Tale – My Adventures With Bumblebees by Dave Goulson is part primer on bumblebees of the world and part charming memoir of the British boyhood of a kid fascinated with insects who grew up to be a scientist and bee crusader.
  • Our Native Bees: North America’s Endangered Pollinators and the Fight to Save Them by Paige Embry (2018).  Bumblebees and other solitary bees profiled by a Seattle writer. Here’s a sample from the book, which includes amazing photographs. 
  • Buzz –  The Nature and Necessity of Bees by Thor Hanson (2018). Hanson, a conservation biologist, is a Pacific Northwest native, a Guggenheim fellow and author of numerous books on topics including seeds and feathers.
  • Humblebee Bumblebee by Brian L. Griffin (1997) An oldie but a goodie written by a Bellingham native featuring a field guide and a list of favorite plants.  Not in Seattle Public Library’s collection, but available from used book sellers.

For those specifically interested in the junction of gardening and bees, here is a list of books Jennings brought to his talk.

  • The Bee Friendly Garden by Kate Frey and Gretchen LeBuhn.
  • Garden for Wildlife by Craig Tufts and Peter Loewes.
  • Pollinator Friendly Gardening by Rhonda Fleming Hayes.
  • 100 Plants to Feed the Bees by the Xerses Society.

 Children’s book mentioned by Patty Lewis (and recently purchased by the Miller Library at CUH): 

  • Bea’s Bees by Katherine Pryor (2019). The Seattle writer of children’s books about gardening, sets this one is a local back yard.  (See also Sylvia’s Spinach and Zora’s Zucchini.)

 Web Sites

By Judy Broom, June, 2019