Spring is here, fellow grown-ups! The days are longer, the flowers are blooming, and the neighborhood bees are clocking back in after their long winter PTO. And just like our kids raiding the fridge after school, these bees are HUNGRY—and on the hunt for pollen to kick off honey production season.
But here’s something we sometimes forget: bees need water too. Yep, just like us after chasing toddlers or trying to assemble IKEA furniture without crying. And not just any water—no bee hot tubs, puddles, or pet bowls, please. They need a dependable, safe watering spot that won’t dry up, flood them, or double as a dog dish.
The good news? With just a few basic supplies (read: stuff you probably already have lying around from last summer's half-finished Pinterest project), we whipped up a bee-safe watering station that even the tiniest pollinators can sip from safely. Bonus: it makes you look like a total eco-hero to the neighbors. 🐝
Make your own Bee Watering Source
SUPPLIES:
- Dollar store Glass Bowl
- 3 - 4 Bags of Marbles (the round kind)
- Measuring Cup
- Water
- Honey (optional)
- Scissors
- Tablespoon (optional)
- Acrylic Paint Markers (optional)
DIRECTIONS
1. Place Glass Bowl & Marbles on your work station
- Make sure the marbles you are using are the round kind. Not the kind with the flat bottoms.
2. Paint your bowl with water-proof acrylic paint pens or any other kind of water-proof paint. Kids may also want to add stickers to their Bee Water source. This is optional and will not impact the bees.
3. Cut the bag that holds the marbles (if applicable)
- Depending on how big your glass bowl is will determine how many bags of marbles you'll need.
4. Pour marbles into your glass bowl to the top.
5. Fill your measuring cup with water to the top
6. Pour water into your glass bowl. Avoid pouring water over the top layer of marbles. You want those marbles to be dry. This is where the bees will land so they do not risk falling into the water. Optional: mix in a tablespoon of honey with your water! Bees love honey water! You can also add a teaspoon of chlorine bleach.
6. Place your Water Bee Source someplace where you see bees.
Bees are a lot like our kids when you switch up the snack cabinet—they will notice, they will be suspicious, and they might ignore it at first out of principle. But don’t worry if your new bee watering station doesn’t have a line out the door right away. Bees are creatures of habit, and it takes them a hot minute to catch on to the new hydration hotspot.
Once they realize there's a reliable, mosquito-free mini spa in town, they’ll be back like it’s Happy Hour. Just keep the water fresh and gently circulating so it doesn’t turn into a mosquito resort—because no one invited those guests. 🐝💦🚫🦟
Want to learn about how I had a Mosquito Free Summer one year without hurting my local Honey Bee Population? CLICK HERE!
Do you know of a fun Bee craft? Let us know!
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