Good Thing: Making a Bee Bath

Bees are tireless workers. I would imagine that flying from flower to flower, back to the hive and then back again would work up quite a thirst. Many of us, however, seem to forget that insects need to drink too. Creating a bee bath (or several!)  in your garden is an ideal way to encourage bees to linger a while longer, which could have untold benefits for your garden. (Did you know that bees are responsible for the cross-pollination of nearly 90% of the world's flowers?) When I recently read about this ingenious idea on another blog I felt compelled to share it here. It has all the hallmarks of a garden "Good Thing" and I'm guessing it will resonate well with many Martha Moments readers.

This beautiful bee bath was created by Sally in Australia. She places blossoms amid the stones to encourage the bees to stop by for a sip. Visit her blog Under The Mango Tree for more inspiration.

Creating a bee bath is simple. All you will need is a large ceramic, plastic or galvanized tray and stones of various sizes. Place the tray at ground level and fill it with a shallow amount of water. Place the stones strategically around the tray, to create islands for the bees to land upon to sip the water. (Do not submerge the stones completely). Be sure to replace the water at least every two days to keep mosquito larvae from growing and to prevent stagnation or evaporation. Place the bath in an area where bees tend to frequent.

Bee baths don't just benefit bees. Many beneficial insects will enjoy the access to fresh water. If there is an area of your garden that is infested with aphids or other leaf-sucking pests, placing a bee bath nearby will encourage lady bugs and other predatory insects and arachnids to the area as well. Before you know it, the aphids will have been eaten up.