The document discusses pollination by bees and how important they are for food production in the United States. It notes that one third of US crops rely on bee pollination but bee populations have been declining. The Nature Conservancy works to conserve lands and waters to protect all life and educates about conservation in New York. The document provides tips on creating pollinator gardens in small spaces like window boxes to help bees by providing food sources.

1. NEW YORK CITY
BEE
POLlINATION
The Nature Conservancy works around the world
to conserve the lands and waters on which all life
depends.The Conservancy’s New York program,
in collaboration with scientists and trustees across
the state, plays a leadership role in the creation of
modern American conservation consciousness.
For more information about TNC, please visit:
nature.org
Sources:N.Steinhaueret.al,TheBeeInformedPartnership;T.Lesie,LongIsland
UniversityBrooklyn;A.Gilman,America.Aljazzeera.com;GreatPollinatorProject.org;
TheHoneyBeeConservancy.org;agpollinators.org;peoplesgarden.usda.gov
Images:Freepik.com;PrismaLabs,inc.;BERNIERfontbyRyanPyae
DesignedbyChungTruongandEmmaTipton-TheNatureConservancy’sUrban
ConservationSummer2016Interns
What do apples, almonds, pumpkins, and
watermelons have in common? They are all
pollinated by bees! As bees move from plant to
plant, they transfer pollen between the
flowers - a vital stage in plant reproduction.
The work of bees and other pollinators enables
roughly one third of the crops produced in the
United States. Bees also indirectly contribute to
meat and dairy production through the
pollination of crops used for foraging and hay.
However, the bee population has declined in
recent years, with millions of hives being lost.
While much remains unknown about the
causes of this decline, its severity is undeniable.
But New Yorkers can help!
A pocket guide to your first urban
pollinator garden
Formoreinformationonbeepollination,pleasevisit:
peoplesgarden.usda.gov
thegreatpollinatorproject.org
thehoneybeeconservancy.org

2. Ready for your first bee pollinator garden? This is
what you need:
- A window box
- Soil or potting mix
- ~3 different species of plant that can grow well
with one another (no mint!)
Reminder:wateryourplantsbasedontheirownneeds
A pollinator garden is designed to attract local
pollinator species by providing food sources.With
dozens of different flowers and herbs particularly
favored by pollinators, there are limitless
possibilities when it comes to creating a garden.
Best of all for space-strapped New Yorkers, a
healthy garden can be as small as a window box!
Tips for a successful garden:
1. Avoid pesticides
2. Avoid hybridized plants
3. Plant native species
4. Plant a variety of flowers that bloom in different seasons
of US food crops rely on bees
for pollination
Sun plants: Lantana, Lavender, Fennel,
Goldenrod, Coneflower,Yarrow, Cosmos ...
Shade plants: Asters, Bee Balm, Oregano,
Penstemons, Marigolds ...
TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE Don't worry, bee happy To Bee a city gardener
Feeding on different flowers allows bees to
producevarioustypesof (delicious)honey
Helping bees to thrive provides resources
for other organisms in the ecosystem
Planting flowers helps remove CO2 and
micropollutants from the atmosphere
BEE FACT 1
Monocrop industrial farming also causes bee loss.
Farmers bring in trucks of bees to pollinate their
crops, then pack them up and ship them off again.
This stresses the hive tremendously.
BEE FACT 2
Private beekeeping has been legal in New York
City since 2010.There are currently nearly 300
beehives registered to more than 100 owners.
1/3
causes of bee population decline:
Pesticides, Parasites, Pathogens,
and Poor nutrition
4P
different species of bees inhabit
New York City200+
percent of colonies in the US were
lost over the 2014-15 winter23