As we become more aware of the vital role pollinators play in a healthy garden, more people are including plant varieties to attract them. A growing number of gardeners even incorporate beehives into their urban landscape.

In today's environmentally sensitive world, it's not just about the honey. By attracting more hard-working pollinators to our gardens, we help create healthier ecosystems. Bees pollinate many of our food crops, including fruits, berries, nuts and vegetables. One out of every three mouthfuls of food in our diet benefits from honeybee pollination. In California, the almond crop depends 100 percent on honeybees for its pollination and ultimate harvest. In the process, famers uses 1.3 million bee colonies -- about half of all the honeybees in the United States.

Unfortunately, bee populations have been in decline. Scientists are investigating "colony collapse disorder," a term describing the mysterious die-off of honeybees that began in October of 2006 across the nation. Researchers are investigating factors including how stress, pesticides and pathogens affect honeybees.

Individuals can increase the bee population by becoming backyard beekeepers. It's not as daunting as it may sound. Professionals will even set up a hive in your yard and help you maintain it.

During filming of a beekeeping episode on "Growing a Greener World," we met Corky Luster, owner of Ballard Bee Co. in Ballard, Wash. He rents hives to homeowners and commercial operations. In a typical setup, two to four hives are placed on the property from February through September, and maintained during weekly visits. The favorite homeowner perk is a 22-ounce jar of honey for each hive. As the bees busily go about their work, they play an important role in helping to promote the viability of local ecosystems.

If you're thinking about having your own backyard bees, check local ordinances. Your county extension office may even offer beekeeping courses. Join a local bee association to get answers and possibly a mentor -- or search out knowledgeable people like Luster.

For people who may fear all bees as dangerous, Luster says: "Typically, honeybees are fairly gentle. They aren't aggressive like hornets, so you don't have to worry about getting stung." That is particularly reassuring if you garden with children.

A box with a queen and other bees costs about $400, although prices vary greatly (there are local suppliers in most parts of the country, and numerous online sources).

Siting the hive is important. Make sure it's in a protected location, with the launch pad directed into your garden. Also, keep a water source nearby. Make sure it has twigs or another floatation device to double as a landing spot.

Bees love native plants as well as herbs and vegetables. Grow an area of native plants along the edge of your property, and limit the use of pesticides. If you must spray, do so in the late evening when bees usually aren't active.

As gardeners and environmental stewards, we can support existing bee populations and other pollinators by being careful with pesticides and other chemicals. We can encourage bees to visit our backyards by using appropriate, diverse plants or by hiring a professional.

The next time you bite into a juicy apple or pick pumpkins with your family, thank the honeybee for making that possible.

(Joe Lamp'l, host of "GardenSMART" on PBS, is a Master Gardener and author. For more information, visit www.joegardener.com. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com.)