The U.S.has more than 4,000 wild bee species,and many are in danger of dying out due to human activity,chemical overuse and climate change.In Colorado,the Girl Scout troops(童子军团)have take on the task of saving bees.They made tiny homes for wild bees called"bee hotels" to fight the big drop in the population of bees.

Bee hotels are like birdhouses for wild bees.Since wild bees don't make honey,they don't live in the containers for bees,but they always need a suitable habitat(栖息地）.Out in the wild, these bees often live holes of dead trees and broken branches.But natural habitats can be hard to come by in the developed areas,which are where bee hotels come in.Dennis vanEngelsdrop,a professor at the University of Maryland,says that bee hotels play an important role in keeping the wild bee population.When wild bees check out of their hotel rooms,they leave their kids behind. A wild bee produces her eggs and leaves food for them to eat.If built correctly,bee hotels can even attract new bee species.

The troops repurposed carboard boxes,paper pipes,etc.to create homes for bees in their local community.A hotel design can be as simple as paper pipes stuck into a box.After building their bee hotels,the girls went out to place them in green pockets of their community,such as community gardens."The most interesting thing I learned is when you think of bees,you just think of honeybees,but there are so many different types,"says Aimee,a Girl Scout.Working with bees can be a daunting task.Many children only know them from the pain of bites.But the Girl Scouts learned to overcome their fears."It was hard for me to go to look at the bees,"says another girl."I'm glad I' did.We need bees for food and flowers.”

Bees are a big deal in the world of plant reproduction.They move pollen(花粉）from one plant to another.While honeybees live communally,most bee species are wild and live on their own.Honeybees may be better known,but wild bees are important pollinators(授花粉者）too.

The bee hotel project also plays an important role in bringing up a new generation of responsible citizens."What you're seeing is that you need bees to survive;so who is better to be concerned about that than the young generation?"vanEngelsdrop says."These efforts are really good because hopefully the girls will show lifelong devotion to the preservation."

The forest was full of shadows as Sylvie hurried through it one summer evening in June. The child hurried the cow through the dark forest to her grandmother’s home.

Suddenly the air was cut by a sharp whistle not far away. Sylvie knew it wasn’t a friendly bird’s whistle. She hid in some bushes. But she was too late.

“Hello, little girl,” a young man called out cheerfully. “I’ve lost my way. Can I spend the night at your house?” he asked.

Sylvie didn’t answer. The stranger began walking with Sylvie as she followed her cow through the forest. She was glad when she could see her grandmother standing near the farm house. The stranger explained his problem to Sylvie’s grandmother.

“Of course you can stay with us.” she said. The young man explained he was a scientist, who collected birds.

“Do you put them in a cage?” Sylvie asked.

“No,” he answered slowly, “I shoot them and preserve them with special chemicals.”

“I’ve been looking for a white heron(苍鹭),” he said, “It’s a very rare white bird.”

But Sylvie’s heart began to beat fast. She knew that strange white bird! Early the next morning, she quietly hurried through the forest. She finally reached a huge pine tree, and climbed to the top. Sylvie’s bare feet and tiny fingers grabbed the tree’s rough trunk. Sharp dry branches scratched her like cat’s claws.

Suddenly, a bird with broad white wings landed on a pine branch next to her. The white heron smoothed its feathers and called to its mate. She knew the wild bird’s secret now.

Were the birds better friends than their hunters? Who can know?

The Best Houseplants for Every Space and Situation

The best indoor plants are the ones that suit your aesthetic (审美的) preferences and aren’t too difficult to maintain. Here’s what you need to know about these different categories of houseplants, so you can choose the ones that work best in your own home.

Low-light Indoor Plants

Not every home has a large bay window for plants to soak up the sunshine. Fortunately, there’s a large variety of plants that aren’t die-hard sun-worshippers. Whether you have a dim corner that’s crying out for a little greenery or you’re craving some color in your bedroom, the best low-light indoor plants don’t require a lot of time or energy.

Tall Indoor Plants

Tall houseplants can instantly bring a space to life by adding definition and texture (质感) to any home-decor style. Working with limited space? Not a problem. You can still make the most of tall indoor plants. Even just one of them can be a striking visual point for a room, and it can help draw the eye upward, making the room appear larger.

Small Indoor Plants

Just because you don’t have a mansion doesn’t mean you can’t have a lush indoor garden. There are plenty of plants that grow in smaller spaces, the teeniest of which can look adorable like a tiny family on a windowsill or shelf. Keep in mind, however, that the smaller the pot is, the quicker the soil will dry out.

Indoor Hanging Plants

What makes indoor hanging plants so special? They fill a blank space in a room with a beautiful silhouette, for starters. They create the illusion (假象) of a jungle, where plants peek out at different heights. They also move the eye upward, opening up the space.