Make a beeline to a pesticide-free garden

Since I received the e-mail from the Natural Resources Defense Council, I've had a recurring dream about other types of e-mail -- visions of queen bees begging for assistance. Their little bee antennae flutter as they jump up and down on miniature keyboards, repeatedly typing, "smbdy pls hlp my clny."

I guess, in my dream world, bees are knowledgeable about texting. It took me a while to understand the meaning behind the royal messages. But I finally got it and began to ponder how we can solve the problem of Colony Collapse Disorder. With the loss of honeybees as a species, our own species is doomed to starvation.

The lack of regulations on new and stronger pesticides and the relentless application of them by lackadaisical consumers play a big part in the decline of the only creatures on earth that can sustain our food supply and keep our gardens growing.

I want to help the queens of all those stressed and collapsing bee colonies. Don't you? If you believe for a moment that this issue does not affect you and your family, consider that more than 30 percent of honeybees nationwide have died or disappeared in the past three years. Common foods that we expect to find in any farm market or grocery store will become extinct if honeybees don't pollinate the flowers, which ultimately make the fruit and vegetables we eat.

Honeybees are responsible for more than $15 billion worth of food crops in this country. But science has seen fit to grant us the dubious benefit of genetically engineered, pollen-free plants that trick bees into thinking they're finding food when they visit those newfangled plants.

Common sense dictates that we educate ourselves about the impact of our actions on the environment and begin to act more responsibly. Luckily, the solution is not complicated. During fall planting time (now until mid-February) plant a diverse array of native plants -- including perennials, flowering herbs, shrubs and trees. Find plants with varying flowering times, so that bees can find food (pollen) most of the year. Visit www.ncwildflower.org for a complete list of recommended native plants that are not only beautiful but also low-maintenance and wildlife friendly.

Stop using pesticides today. The more diverse your garden becomes, the less you'll need to rely on chemical sprays to maintain your landscape. Don't stress about a few damaged flowers or leaves on ornamental plants or food crops. Trust me, I banned pesticides in my garden more than a dozen years ago, and it only took a few years before I noticed that my plants had become so hardy and strong that damaging bugs and diseases all but disappeared. Pesticide-free landscapes encourage more birds and other critters to assume their natural roles as bug exterminators.

Find out more about honeybees, by contacting the N.C. State Beekeepers Association (www.ncbeekeepers.org). If you're interested, they can teach you how to start your own hives. After all, the byproduct of all those beelines to your new diverse array of flowering plants is some awesomely tasty and healthful honey -- which has always been defined as nature's only perfect food.

The secret life of bees is not a myth. They work tirelessly to support life as we know it. It's just good manners to offer them some good old-fashioned Southern hospitality in return. Thanks for paying attention. I'll sleep better knowing you're helping out. Maybe my sad dreams will change from desperate queen bees pleading for help to beautiful visions of gardens teeming with life and hope for a brighter future.