Last fall, I brought home these bees to the farm. Bees fascinate me. There may be as many as 60,000 individual bees in this colony. All of them working together to take care of the whole group. While they do that, they hold the whole world’s food web together, helping plants reproduce and animals (including humans) eat. Plus they talk to each other with dance, and I think that’s cool. 

I have read many books on beekeeping. I have watched my share of beekeeping videos. I even have a few good friends who keep bees. Nevertheless, I do not know what I’m doing as a beekeeper. Since they got here, my beekeeping as mostly consisted of sitting quietly on the hill 10 feet away and watching them fly. It’s very peaceful. They seem happy and healthy — as far as I can tell, so I’ve pretty much left them alone. 

I have done one thing though. I have planted for them a meadow. One chilly Sunday morning in early March, I scattered seeds over a half an acre of the farm. Millions and millions of seeds. Wildflower seeds, native prairie seeds, perennials and annuals — just like Miss Rumphius trying to make the world more beautiful. Starting off with worn-out, sandy soil, I am hoping that year after year, the meadow becomes healthier, more biodynamic, more colorful, and more welcoming to pollinators and wildlife.

This is how it started (look close and you can see some seeds!):

This is what it looks like today, so we are already making progress:

Eventually, it will be overflowing with flowers. It will be filled with pollinator of all kinds including the Sycamore Tree Farm & Flower Bees. I hope to mow a nice walking path into the meadow in coming years to make it a peaceful place for people to enjoy as well. I can’t wait to watch it evolve.

I’ve been told by the internet that this is National Wildflower Week. Why not celebrate by scattering your own wildflower seeds in a little part of your yard or garden? What a lovely way to make your part of the world a little more beautiful!

Need some inspiration? Check out American Meadows. I bought some of my seeds there.