Planting flowers or even allowing patches of
weeds and native plants to grow can help bolster
bee populations and combat habitat loss, he said.
And, skipping pesticides is important, too.
“There are certain plants like echinacea and
goldenrods that are nice to look at, and are really
fantastic for pollinators. So you can you can have
your cake and eat it, too,” Edwards said, noting a
small garden can make a big difference. “Even if
you live in an apartment, you can work with the
neighborhood to make a bee garden or put some
flowers on your balcony.”
BEEKEEPER EDUCATION
The Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association has
bolstered its ranks to almost 300 members from
Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Berks, Bucks and
surrounding counties. The group’s mission is
to promote the art and science of beekeeping,
and Snellen is among its master beekeepers —
those considered to have extensive knowledge
of honeybee biology and expertise in the proper
practices of beekeeping.
Even as a hobbyist, Snellen takes the job seriously.
He builds his own beekeeping boxes, and his
diverse operation in East Allentown includes
treating and feeding thousands of honeybees
(upward of 40,000 per box currently, while those
populations can be much higher at other parts of
the year).
When honeybees are not able to collect enough
food through natural sources, which is known as
a dearth, people like Snellen step in. The most
common way to help is by feeding the bees sugar
water, a substitute for plant nectar that will help
to keep the colony alive. However, supplemental