<div><p>You've likely seen advertisements for the new Cheerios campaign that aims to help bolster the declining bee populations in America. </p><p>It's a pretty good idea too - Cheerios will send you a free packet of wildflower seeds to people all over the country. These flowers will attract bees and encourage them to continue to do what bees do best: make honey.</p><p>There's one problem though: some of the flowers included in the packet are considered invasive species in some states. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/vv1ibamnh9ziczycwnjs.png" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/vv1ibamnh9ziczycwnjs_GH_content_550px.png 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/vv1ibamnh9ziczycwnjs_GH_content_650px.png 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/vv1ibamnh9ziczycwnjs_GH_content_750px.png 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>Rather than sending seeds for native flower species to specific locations, General Mills is sending a basic mix of hysspops, lavender, daisies, poppies and forget-me-nots. </p><p>Some of these flowers listed above are not native to America and others are actually banned in different states. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/66-4.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/66-4_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/66-4_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/66-4_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/66-4_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/66-4_GH_content_950px.jpg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/66-4_GH_content_1050px.jpg 1050w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></figure></div><p>Although 'no plant is inherently 'bad', many species can and have caused a great deal of damage when they are introduced into locations outside of their native range," ecologist Kathryn Turner told <a href="http://lifehacker.com/don-t-plant-those-bee-friendly-wildflowers-cheerios-i-1793370883?utm_content=buffer1fef1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">Lifehacker</a>. </p><p>If you are concerned with the declining bee population, but want to be confident that you are planting flowers that are appropriate for your region, check out Xerces' <a href="http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/plant-lists/">regional gardening guides</a> for tips on what seeds you should buy.</p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>Then check out the <a href="https://t.co/KywvvW1wC8">USDA's PLANTS</a> database to be sure that any plants you buy from the garden center are native to your region.</p><p>Planting for pollinators is still 'the bee's knees,' we've just got to be smart about how we do it!</p><div><figure><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/12842806815" target="_blank"><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/jcaarclmk83cmpvt7itn.png" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/jcaarclmk83cmpvt7itn_GH_content_550px.png 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/jcaarclmk83cmpvt7itn_GH_content_650px.png 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/03/jcaarclmk83cmpvt7itn_GH_content_750px.png 750w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img></a><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/12842806815" target="_blank">USFWS Mountain Prairie</a></cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>[h/t<a href="http://lifehacker.com/don-t-plant-those-bee-friendly-wildflowers-cheerios-i-1793370883?utm_content=buffer1fef1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer"> Lifehacker</a>]</p><p><strong>Like & Share to spread this very important information.</strong></p><p></p></div>
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