Because my husband and I are honeybee keepers-(well actually HE is the beekeeper and I am the apiary assistant!) a detailed book on how to plan your yard with bees in mind seemed like the perfect read. This book did not disappoint. The author duo are a combination of an experienced famous garden designer and professor of biology--so I expected a good balance of practical and sophisticated advice.
The book is a visual gem. It is 212 pages of beautiful photographs and is well laid out. The photos do not show out of reach ideals of bee gardens--but are practical and attractive and help the reader feel that some garden changes are very attainable.
Who knew there are 4000 different types of bees in the US.? Who knew that bees are really not interested in humans and will sting only when startled or defending themselves or their nests? That said, Frey and LeBuhn lay out ideas to attract bees of all kinds to your environment--and provide lists of annuals, perennials, and shrubs and trees that will attract bees looking for nectar for energy and pollen to provide for their offspring.
The book provides pages of ideas for planting and organizing your garden or yard--whether you want to change up a few plants, or kill off all your grass and turn it into a bee smorgasbord. The authors provide suggestions on voiding chemical herbicides and pesticides that are bee killers.
The Bee Friendly Garden provides enough advice for novices and more detailed technical advice for the advance gardener. I know that I will bee keeping (sic!) my eyes open this spring and summer for some of those 4000 varieties and hope to identify a few who come by to nosh.
I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.
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