As many people are aware, honey bee populations in the United States are suffering. The mass die-offs of bees is called Colony Collapse Disorder. There are various theories as to why this is occurring. From my own reading, it seems that a pesticide has been one of the leading causes. Another source of the problem could be from the vast mono cultures that occur in the world of industrial farming.
One way that every land-owner can help honey bees in their area is by planting flowers that honey bees will benefit from. In my painting, I have included 5 of the many kinds of plants and flowers a gardener can choose from. From left to right, I have included: Foxgloves (Digitalis), Coneflower (Echinacea), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), and Buttercup (Ranunculus). You can learn more about planting your own bee garden on the Honeybee Conservancy website.
This painting is available as a print on my Etsy shop, FromSkytoSea.
© Ashley P. Halsey 2017
From Sky to Sea 