there are huge problems with bees at the moment , no doubt man made most of them , but no one really knows . Some beekeepers have lost all their colonies , some just a few . It is however, still worth keeping them .
Just about anywhere would be ok to keep them really , very few places would be unsuitable. As for your plants in a garden , they would make very little difference to keeping bees. Bees have a range of about 2-3 miles from the hive , in all directions . So that is a truly huge area , and the comparatively very few plants you have in your garden, would be sorted by the bees in just a few minutes really .
I would just ask your direct neighbours , if they are allergic to bee stings . I wouldn't want to be responsible for the death of someone , due to my keeping bees . I know that they could get stung anyway , but if the people next door had problems, then I would think about keeping them elsewhere.
If you know of any bees/hives /anything !!! going spare, grab it/them fast !!! You really can learn as you go with bees . Any number of books are available , or just google it ....loads of info on bees is available on the net.
I have just received my brand new honey extractor kit today .
https://secure.thorne.co.uk/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/millhouse/thorne/shop/springer?ACTION=thispage&THISPAGE=page10070.html&ORDER_ID=325940209I got the bees on a budget kit for £108 , £125 with vat and delivery. So I hope to get some honey at last !!! . Thornes carry just about everything to do with bees , and have an excellent service online. You can keep bees for very little, by making you own hives etc and collecting secondhand gear.
If you are thinking about keeping them , just do it . It is easy to learn as you go , I doubt you will regret it , but if you do ? there will always be someone waiting to pounce on your collection ., no reason to lose a penny if you go careful !!
http://www.biobees.com/the above site has loads of information , even a pdf on how to make a topbar hive yourself. This site alone, should keep anyone interested in keeping bees, fixed to the pc for hours .
cheers
Russ