So, you want to impress the bees. Good news—you don’t need a fancy dating profile, but you do need to set the mood. Bees are looking for a few key things in a potential partner (aka your yard): good food, a safe place to stay, and no toxic drama. If you can provide all that, congratulations—you’re about to become the hottest spot in town for pollinators.

Here’s how to flirt with the bees and keep them coming back for more.

Step 1: Dress to Impress (Plant the Right Flowers)

If you want to catch a bee’s eye, you’ve gotta look the part. Bees are all about color, and they prefer blues, purples, yellows, and whites—basically, the floral equivalent of a little black dress.

Top flowers that’ll make bees swoon:

Zinnias – Bright, bold, and a bee magnet.
Sunflowers – The tall, sunny flirt of the garden.
Bee Balm – It’s literally got “bee” in the name—say no more.
Lavender – Smells amazing, attracts bees, and gives you bonus points for relaxation vibes.
Clover – Low-maintenance, high-reward. A backyard favorite for pollinators.
Borage – The quiet charmer. Bees love it, and so will your garden.

Want to keep the relationship strong? Plant a mix of flowers that bloom throughout the seasons so bees always have something to come back for. If you ghost them in late summer, don’t expect a second date.

Step 2: Skip the Perfume (Ditch the Pesticides)

Nothing kills the mood faster than a toxic environment. Bees are highly sensitive to pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals that people spray without thinking.

If you wouldn’t douse yourself in perfume before a first date (okay, maybe just a little), then don’t drench your yard in chemicals. Go natural with organic pest control methods, companion planting, or just let nature do its thing.

Step 3: Offer a Refreshing Drink (Make a Bee Bath)

Hardworking bees need a place to hydrate and freshen up. A simple bee bath is like setting out a perfectly chilled cocktail on a summer day—irresistible.

How to make a bee bath:

Grab a shallow dish (think fancy charcuterie board but for bees).
Add some clean water—not too deep; we’re not running a swimming pool.
Toss in some rocks, sticks or even corks so bees have a place to perch and sip.
Place it somewhere sunny but protected from heavy foot traffic.

Refill it regularly, and congrats—you’ve just created a bee spa.

Step 4: Provide a Cozy Stay (Give Them Shelter)

Bees don’t just visit; they need places to nest and raise their little bee families. While honeybees live in hives, native bees need cozy hideaways in your yard.

How to be the ultimate host:

Leave some bare ground – Many bees nest underground, so don’t mulch every inch.
Skip the “perfect lawn” – Dandelions and clover? That’s basically free brunch for bees.
DIY a bee hotel – Drill holes in untreated wood or bundle hollow stems together for a rustic, Pinterest-worthy bee B&B.

Give them a good home, and they’ll never ghost you.

Step 5: Be Consistent (Keep the Love Alive)

Bees aren’t looking for a fling. If you want them to stick around, you have to keep up the effort. Keep planting, keep watering, and avoid seasonal “food deserts” where nothing is blooming.

Want extra credit? Talk about them. The more people who plant for pollinators, the better. Maybe even bribe your neighbors with some honey to stop mowing down their dandelions.

Our friends at Arbor Day Farm have the right idea.

Final Thoughts: The Bees Are Watching

At the end of the day, bees are looking for a yard that feeds them, shelters them, and doesn’t poison them. Do that, and you’ll have the buzziest, most desirable spot in the neighborhood.

So go ahead, roll out the welcome mat. Your future winged admirers are already on their way.

How to Woo the Bees to Your Yard (Without Looking Desperate)