Izvleček

Avgust Bukovec and his outstanding contribution to the knowledge of honey plants is among those exceptional individuals whose work has significantly marked Slovenian beekeeping. The article describes him as a pioneer in this field and as an expert, whose written contributions to the Slovenski čebelar gazette often went beyond the scope of conventional beekeeping literature. But Bukovec was not just an expert – he was a visionary who, as early as in the first part of the 20th century, warned of the vulnerability of bee colonies and the key connection between the vitality of bees and flowering nature. His insightful observations, from his early acquaintance with the swamp tulip in the Ljubljana Marshes to a detailed analysis of the dangers of False helleborine (Veratrum album) and Busy Lizzie (Impatiens walleriana), he contributed to the Slovenian understanding of bee grazing. Bukovec’s work not only included knowledge of plants that were beneficial to bees, but also those that threatened them, which demonstrates his comprehensive and progressive thinking. He drew attention to the decline in the production of buckwheat, a key late-summer honey plant. The article invites reflection on the lasting impact of Bukovec’s insights on modern beekeeping, horticulture and biodiversity conservation, and emphasises his invaluable legacy for the future of our bees.