Bees In The Container

Bees sometimes stop by the rain gauge looking for a quick drink, especially during hot, dry weather. Unfortunately, they occasionally crawl into the container and can’t get back out. Not good. Bees are friends.

A few simple tricks can help keep your tiny garden visitors safe:

• Provide another nearby water source for pollinators. A shallow dish filled with pebbles or stones gives bees a safe landing spot for drinking.
• Empty the rain gauge after storms or watering instead of leaving standing water sitting in the container.
• Add a little citronella, peppermint, or another strong-smelling essential oil around the rim to make the gauge less appealing to curious bees.
• Check the gauge now and then during summer heat waves when pollinators are actively searching for water.

Bees work hard enough already. Let’s not make the rain gauge part of their retirement plan.

Save the bees!