Hi everyone! As many of you know, I own Blooms Social flower shop here in West Palm Beach. We create beautiful floral arrangements for all your special occasions and host special events and activities to bring out your inner florist. This year, however, I’ve decided to cultivate a new passion: beekeeping!

Yes, you read that right! My 2024 resolution was to become a beekeeper and let me tell you, it’s been a fascinating journey so far. It all started with a thirst for knowledge – I devoured everything I could find about bees, joined the Palm Beach County Beekeeper Association and even attended the South Florida Honey Bee Expo.

I want to be upfront: I’m a total beginner in the bee world. Bees, on the other hand, have been around for millennia, doing their incredible work without any human intervention. The hives I’ll be talking about are all privately cared for.

Speaking of incredible work, bees are the backbone of our gardens! As I’ve been designing and planting my new culinary garden (herb garden, veggie patch and flower haven included!), I’ve been laser-focused on making it bee-friendly. 

Here’s what I’ve learned to help our local bee population:

• Skip the harsh chemicals!
• Ladybugs are natural pest controllers – a great excuse for a fun garden party with wine and cheese, right?
• Plant power!
• Our gardens rely on bees and other pollinators to thrive. When planting your bee haven, group similar flowers closely. Bees have poor eyesight, so hopping from bloom to bloom is easier when the flowers are clustered together.
• Color coordination!
• Bees see blues, purples, whites, and yellows best. Red? Not so much on their radar.
• Think beyond your backyard!
• Even a balcony bee garden or container garden can be a huge help to bees.
• Hydration station!

Just like us, bees need clean, accessible water. A shallow dish filled with stones for safe landing is perfect. Remember, bees can’t swim, so those stones are a lifesaver (literally!). Keep the water fresh, especially during our hot South Florida summers.

Planting power, part two!

Plant plenty of bee-friendly flowers in bright colors. A single bee can visit up to 2,000 flowers a day, and those busy wings beating almost 10,000 times a minute work up a thirst!

I know some folks might be nervous around bees, but remember: no bees, no food! Let’s all do our part to be kind to these amazing creatures. Planting bee-friendly flowers is more important than ever, and who knows, maybe you’ll discover a newfound love for these fascinating pollinators, just like I have!

Stay tuned for more bee-autiful adventures as I continue my beekeeping journey!

Enjoy a local honey tasting experience at my next floral class on August 17. Join us for Sweet Summer Blooms for a summer flower bouquet class and honey tasting. Learn more here.