Fewer Bees In Yard This Year

Question From: S. Carter - MICHIGAN
Q: Hello Nancy, I look forward to your column each Friday. We have recently replanted our garden, adding lavender, cone flowers, pin cushion flower, coreopsis, a butterfly bush, Russian sage, milk weed and a patch of yarrow. We added snap dragons and petunias as annuals. Our concern is we do not notice many bumble or honey bees. Years back we recall the almost deafening hum of bees at work. We have had a local business spray our yard for the past three years. Could this be part of the problem? We appreciate any input

A: Every year the bee count in Michigan goes down. Use of chemicals is certainly part of the problem. Find out what chemicals your landscape company is using and their toxicity to pollinators.