Over the winter, we wrote about how cutting down late-fruiting ivy could deprive bigs and birds of a much-needed food source.

Now, it’s summer, and nectar and pollen abound (as anyone with hay fever can stuffily attest).

Still, Mark Douglas, Cuprinol Garden Shades’ resident beekeeper and founder of Bee1, says bees still have their preferences ― which is why you might want to consider leaving your dandelions well alone.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Douglas said that ― like ivy ― the blooming schedule of dandelions makes them uniquely useful to bees.