Beekeeping in Anne Arundel
Did you know that 61% of hives in Maryland were lost between 2014-2015 in a 12 month period? Or that there are 400 different species of bees in Maryland alone? I learned this while photographing a presentation by 2016 Keep Maryland Beautiful award recipient Anne Arundel County Master Gardeners in Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis. Master Gardeners Mary Yee and Bob Bates explained the life of bees and how important they are to Maryland's environment as pollinators. Their goal is to educate more of the public and raise awareness about protecting the health of native bees who have been dying at an alarming rate. The significant loss is most likely due to a combination of habitat loss; the use of dangerous pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides; and other diseases that affect the bees. Though bees are being affected significantly by human activity, there are ways 
we can help support the pollinators we depend on. Some examples of what you can do include: making gardens and homes more bee-friendly by planting more flowering plants; adding small rocks or sticks to a water feature you might have to allow bees to drink from it in the heat of summer; and, refraining from using harmful pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides in gardens and on lawns. You can also help by supporting local beekeepers' colonies by buying organic honey at your local farmers markets, or supporting organizations such as the Master Gardeners BeeKeeping project in your community. To find out more about what the Master Gardeners bee keepers do and when and where you can attend one of their free demonstrations, visit their website.
Protecting Land Forever
Contribute to LandScope
Want to join, work with us or simply find out more? Learn how you can get involved.
