Stop swatting away bees! While they may freak us out when they are buzzing around our ears, they are known as beneficial insects for a reason. In fact, the Queen bee really is something to admire and protect. 

Did you know that 90 percent of the world's crops grow thanks to bee pollination? Without bees pollinating on plants, we would not be able to enjoy the foods we love so much including: 

• Cherries
• Coconut
• Chocolate
  
• Coffee
• Vanilla
• Fig
• Apples
• Avocado
• Mango
• and more...

But, bee pollination is more than just tasty foods; it's a $30 billion a year industry in crops that we cannot afford to lose. This is why we must save the bees. Bees need pollination for survival and without their help, we would not be able to survive. 

So, how do we protect the bees?

It starts with protecting pollinating flowers from deer damage and the threat of bears with Wildlife Fencing. While bears with first go after bee hives for a taste of all-natural honey, deer will want to eat flowers that bees want to feed on, too.

Bees prefer pollinating on certain flowers including:

• Bee balm
• Black-eyed Susan
• Stonecrop
• Goldenrod
• Butterfly Bush.
• Purple coneflower
• Joe-pye weed
• Lavender

These are the types of flowers to grow for bees to survive. Even better, some of these springtime plants can be used for deer-resistance including lavender and Black-eyed Susan.

As we approach National Pollinator Week 2018 in June, we must keep the bees in mind. Save the bees, save yourselves.