Pollinators, Hooray!

Bees are one of the most important pollinators for flowers, fruits, and vegetables, their pollination greatly supports our food system. About one-third of the food we eat relies on pollination, and many of the fruits and veggies people love (like apples and tomatoes) wouldn’t exist without them. California has an estimated 1600 native bee species, who are not necessarily honey producers but are also critical for the health of the ecosystem in Sonoma County.

Bumble bees, carpenter bees and sweat bees, leaf cutter bees, and long-horned bees are some examples of these native species who’ve evolved side by side with the native plants in the area.

Pollinators like bees also help maintain healthy ecosystems by supporting plant diversity, which in turn sustains wildlife, including many species in Sonoma County. Just on this property alone there’s been sightings of jackrabbits, coyotes and bobcats!

Bees are one of many important pollinators, alongside butterflies, moths, bats, and even some birds. The local pollinator community in Sonoma County includes both wild and managed pollinators that keep the biodiversity of the area alive.