WALPOLE – A canceled lunch date turned into a business opportunity for resident Ariel Harris, 24, who recently launched Blossom By Bees, a nonprofit organization that plants self-sustaining wildflower habitats to help honeybees and other pollinators.
After her friend bailed on lunch, Harris, who works full time at State Street Corp. in Boston, opted to eat at her desk and watch a TED Talk on the plight of honeybees.
She learned that honeybees are the most abundant pollinators on the planet yet they have been in decline for more than 60 years, with 6 million hives recorded in 1947 compared to only 2.5 million today.
"Last year in Massachusetts alone we lost 44 percent of our hives - that’s nearly half," Harris said. "Honeybees account for more than $15 billion through their vital role in keeping fruits, nuts and vegetables in our diets."
Harris knew she wanted to do something and after extensive research found a reasonable way to help the world’s pollinators by planting wildflowers.
As a child, her grandmother, Claire Harris, often read the book, "Miss Rumphius," the story of a woman who travels the world spreading lupine seeds.
"I thought of the lupine lady and her flowers—if bees need more flowers, then like the lupine lady, I will plant seeds," Harris said.
So that’s what Harris set out to do. By planting flowers and providing food that isn’t contaminated back into the bees’ diets, she plans to help rebuild their declining population.
"Bees travel a two-mile radius around their hive to collect nectar and pollen. If there are less flowers, then the bees have to travel further to gather less food," Harris said.
There is an urgency for pollinators to also have uncontaminated food, she added. Insecticides and pesticides are making pollinators sick and herbicides are destroying their habitat.
"Last summer, for instance, between the lack of habitat in general – more lawns instead of gardens where herbicides are being used, and the drought in Massachusetts – many colonies straight out starved to death in their colonies," Harris said.
If just 1,000 people planted a 2-foot-by-4-foot wildflower garden, it will have impact, she said.
The types of flowers that attract pollinators are visually appealing, she added.
"There are lots of beautiful pollinator-friendly plants that people want to plant," Harris said.
Sunflowers, for example, are a good option and easy to plant.
"They are easy to put into the ground and you can forget about them and they will grow," Harris said. "Also, one of the best things that you can do that’s simple and great for bees is just let clover grow in your grass. Clover is amazing for bees and you can mow it—it grows all summer long, is soft to walk on, and is pretty."
Any insect that moves pollen from one flower to another is considered a pollinator. Ants, butterflies and hummingbirds are all classified as pollinators.
For those who don’t want to plant wildflowers, hanging a hummingbird feeder is another option.
Locals who do want to create their own wildflower garden can contact Blossoms by Bees. Harris and her staff travel to homeowners’ properties, prepare the land and plant wildflower seeds.
Blossom By Bees purchases seeds through the Vermont Wildflower Farm (http://www.vermontwildflowerfarm.com/). Harris favors their seeds because, in a five-pound bag from the Vermont Wildflower Farm, 100 percent is seed vs. a generic bag purchased at a local outlet. The local generic bags typically only offer 2 percent of seed while the rest is dirt, Harris said.
To help raise money to purchase the necessary gardening tools such as rakes, rototillers, seed spreaders, shovels and pounds of seed, Blossom By Bees hosts fundraisers, such as the recent Honey Cup 5K held at Adam’s Farm. On Aug. 18 the organization is hosting a pollinator dinner at Sunny Rock Farm with Chef Rich Soto.
"All of the fruits and vegetables and wine parings will be those pollinated by bees," Harris said. "While you’re enjoying your meal, you will learn about how specific bee species are paramount to the success of agriculture."
Tickets are $125 per person and include cocktail hour, music, pollinator dinner, wine parings, honey tasting, fire pit and a gift to take home. Only 30 tickets are available. To purchase tickets visit https://blossomsbybees.org/event/pollinator-harvest-dinner/.
Protecting pollinators is a lifetime goal for Harris, she recently joined the Norfolk County Beekeepers Association and serves as a board member.
"The bee community is vast and all around you," she said. "It is a great hobby that is extremely fascinating, educational and outdoors."
Email Ariel@BlossomByBees.org for questions and information.