BEES: A reader called us after seeing mentioned in a national article in The Era a group of honey bees that were brought to the White House a few years ago.

Our reader mentioned the decline of bee populations in recent years and was interested to hear the bee colony was brought to the presidential home for protection. He noted the bees made 140 pounds of honey in one year.

It’s interesting that he called when he did, because next week is Pollinator Week in Pennsylvania.

It’s not just bees, but also birds, bats and other insects help pollinate plants, according to a 2015 press release from the White House about the bees. At that time, there were 70,000 bees residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The Penn State Extension’s recent Home Gardening newsletter listed a few of “the best plants to attract and support pollinators,” which include clustered mountain mint, boneset, coastal plain Joe Pye, swamp milkweed and stiff goldenrod.

For more information on these plants, visit extension.psu.edu/best-plants-for-pollinators?j=234586&sfmc_sub=34417118&l=159_HTML&u=4584315&mid=7234940&jb=15

GASOLINE: We’re spending a lot more for gasoline this summer.

This is according to AAA, which reported Wednesday that motorists are spending on average $65 per month to fill-up their vehicles than in summer 2017.

AAA estimates the national gas price average to stay between $2.85 and $3.05 per gallon through Labor Day this year.

The agency offered these tips to improve drivers’ gas mileage:

• Drive the speed limit

• Don’t travel with as much stuff in the vehicle

• Accelerate gradually

• Drive during the cooler parts of the day

• Check your tire pressure

AAA noted it doesn’t expect most consumers to drive less this summer, despite the higher gas prices.