bees

just so as not to add more confusion to the squash thread. ive also noticed that i have no bees around my garden either. in the name of science we should start a bee poll, ive got none...

I have a few but not as many as I think I should. It has been cold here this spring so I am hoping they are just not as active as they should be and I am not seeing them because of it.

I saw Bumble bees in the wild blackberries- no honey bees yet, but some thing pollinated the dandelions. I when out later and saw a Honey bee and also a fly of some kind. It looks like there are enough different insects to pollinate stuff.

This message was edited Jun 5, 2008 9:19 PM

Honey Bees are not so much random pollinators. Yes, there are a few scout bees that will check out clover, dandelions and flowers, and your garden, but unless you have a fairly large selection of these, honey bees will tend to use large sources when available. Your best pollinators for the small garden are bumble bees and the solitary bees. Here is a link to a site that discusses this - http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/nativebee.html.

I googled for sources and found this: http://www.pollinatorparadise.com/Solitary_Bees/Supply.htm These native bees are a better choice for your small garden.

There's no question that bees are essential. I tried keeping my own honey bees for a while - but they were too much work for me. I now let a local apiarist keep three hives near my house. I have fruit trees as well. Honey bees love fruit tree bloom. (large source)

This message was edited Jun 6, 2008 5:51 AM

ive noticed ants pollinating my stuff. some bumble bees, no other bees.

We have LOTS of bees here. We plant clover in a food plot down by the creek for the deer and the honey bees love it when it blooms. It has started growing in our yard (5 1/2 acres) in the early spring too so they have a very abundant supply. I never have any trouble getting all my things pollinated.

We have lots of bees here -- big ones and little ones. Some are even HUGE. Don't know what kind they are. They didn't say. I try not to use any kind of insecticide. I make an exception for fireant poison, though. The package says it is not harmful to beneficial insects, which appears to be true.

In the spring we have quite a few wildflowers come up, including red clover. They seem happy with those until the plants in the yard start to bloom. I'm trying to get more wildflowers planted, but I think the birds are eating my seeds so I have to come up with another solution. Just throwing the seeds around definitely doesn't work.

Karen

I was worried about the bees this year but about two weeks ago they seemed to come out in full force. Our yard has clover growing in it and that seems to be what attracts them the most. They also love the foxgloves.

If you live down here in the south, you almost have to make an exception where fireants are concerned. They're always around but they show up in droves after every rain. I don't use insecticides in my garden either and it makes a big difference. Not only do I have lots of bees but loads of lady bugs too.

Nature,

Last year we had a swarm of ladybugs in the late summer. Have you seen this? Thousands and thousands of them everywhere -- in the house, all over the decks. I counted over a hundred just on the canopy of my porch swing. I wish I could have gotten a photo, but, like the swarm of dragonflies we had for a couple of weeks, it just wouldn't show up to any advantage in a photo.

We also have toads and lizards everywhere. I think they take care of a lot of the garden insect problems, too. I only had aphids on two of my tomato plants last year. Soapy water took care of that. And I had Jap beetles, but only on the cannas. They didn't bother anything else, even the rose bushes just six feet away from the cannas. Of course, I did have to squash the squash bugs.

I did try organic solutions for the fireants -- didn't work. But I don't like general insecticides. There are too many "good critters" in the yard and garden.

Karen

I tried to get a better shot of this guy, but he wouldn't hold still. LOL.

no honey or bumble bees here in central Missouri, plenty of carpenter bees but they are never around the garden.

Hand pollination is really pretty easy. Pick male flowers which have just opened and still have their "parts", peel off the petals, and rub them all over the center of female flowers.

We are finding a shortage of all types of bee's here in UK, there is a problem both in USA and UK, some parts of Europe too with the bee population and honey producers are really worried, it has become known that there is a predator that is killing off hives, this insect buries it's eggs into the bee's, they take it back to the hives and before long, the bee's are dying off, some areas report that 70% of their hives have been wiped out, and scientists everywhere are trying to find a cure for this predator. so all bee keepers are being asked to check their hives more often, then report anything strange to the authorities, we watched a program on TV last week and it is dreadful that without the bees, we will have a food shortage, crops wont get pollinated and honey will be a thing of the past, I dont want to be a scare monger, but in USA this problem has been known for at least 5 years in lots of the honey producing states. so be kind to the bees and report any dead or dying in larger numbers than usual, we have had lots of them just dead on the lawns in the past few months, not the cold or the wet. I garden 10 acres and never use pesticides, never had for the last 50-60 years as it was an old Victorian garden left to go wild, so be warned and look out for your bees. WeeNel.

WeeNel, I'm pretty sure you are talking about Varroa and Tracheal Mites. These parasites truly have reduced the population of honey bees. There are treatments that work for mites. Some are not approved for use because the honey is going to be consumed by humans. But if it because a matter of saving the bees. The general consensus among local beekeepers is that overuse of pesticides is the main culprit in the bee die-off. This is especially true in vineards and orchards.

glendalekid,
Yes, we've had that happen with ladybugs here every once in a while. Doesn't happen every year though. I guess sometimes they just have all the right conditions and reproduce like crazy. It makes it a rough year for the aphids, LOL! We had one year that they were so thick, they were becoming a problem getting in everyones houses and cars! We have dragonflies here in our yard every summer. I'm really glad to have them since they eat mosquitoes.

I saw this bee while admiring my wife's perennial garden. I don't recall ever seeing a bee like this with a green head. He was busy collecting and pollenating and doing his job. Anybody know what kind of bee this is?

Looks kinda waspy.

Looks like a Virescent Green Metallic bee. ( Agapostemon virescens)

This message was edited Jun 22, 2008 9:04 PM

I'm glad somebody knows their bees:) I was just happy to see him in the garden. Like I said I have never seen one like it but maybe I wasn't paying good enough attention.

I'm always happy to see any bees.

I'm happy to see bees too. I haven't seen many at all this year, but the weather's been cool here.

fourks,
It's amazing how much more you notice things like insects when you start growing flowers and veggies! My granddaughter loves to tag along and "help" me with all the gardening and she's learning a lot.

Yeah, Its amazing what you can find once you start looking. I started keeping honey bees this spring, and was rewarded with the great discovery of all the little things living around me. Something your granddaughter can tell us all about:-)

My older brother used to keep honey bees when we were kids. We used to love to get a piece of the honeycomb to chew on.

I have always loved honey bees and bumble bees, I've lived in the same location for 45 years, with the same bees, and they are thriving, mightily!! I wish I could record them for you. We believe we have more this year than ever. What I try to do is keep our bees off the ground - so, I found trees that they love, and, IMO, they love nothing better than crepe myrtle. And, that is so fortunate because the crepes bloom 'forever'. I have fruit trees prior to the crepes, but the bees absolutely LOVE crepes and the honey is the best ever. My white crepes, Natchez White, are stately, tall and 20 years old, they require no maintenance and they are bug/pest free, and VERY tall. I have other crepes, of color, that were here long before I arrived, mostly Watermelon & pinks. In the past few years, I've added many purples & reds, truly beauties, Dynamite & Catalpas. But, the truth is that the bees prefer the Natchez Whites & the honey is the world's best.

I like the tall, arched crepes for the protection from below and above for the bees. Air spraying is not allowed over our town, but they fly over occasionally to fields in the area, and having the bees in the trees, covered by the leaves, keeps them safe from anything that might fall off a crop duster & keeps them off the ground, and safe from anything that might harm them there. They seldom visit my yarden which is very near the crepes and I have colored crepes all around, but I'd say the bees are addicted to the Natchez Whites!

Every year we hear stories about bees leaving their hives or dying or simply not showing up. Like I say, we believe we have more this year than in the past 45.

Do any of you have crepes, and, if so, are your bees attracted to them???

I found a white crepe in the backyard of the new house and was thinking of pulling it out and putting it somewhere else. But if it attracts bees, it's staying. I'll have to go spend some time out there looking. Thank you!

"Do any of you have crepes, and, if so, are your bees attracted to them???"

Mine ar just beginning to bloom, and they're all pink. I'll keep an eye on them for bee activity. There are far too few bees this year, although the Bumbles have appeared, finally.

p.s. and far too many yellow jackets. Are they really beneficial? I'm tired of getting stung....

This bumble bee seemed to prefer my arbor vitaes. He buzzed around them for the longest time last night. I tried chasing him to the tomatoes but he protested.

SherryLike--If you need someone to volunteer as a honey taste tester let me know:)

TMaple, I've looked and searched for a thread I posted some time ago, maybe on the brug forum, re bees on my property, in our storehouse - the bees held us hostage, from our store house, for three years, while we waited for a professional bee keeper to remove the hive. The honey was heaven and the bee keeper said the most popular he'd ever had. Unfortunately, we/family/friends devoured ours on the spot and that, was that!! The bees now have their hive in our woods, which border our homes. I'm attempting to take photos of the bees and I'll go to picnik.com or some photo shop place online and attempt to 'color' the bees, so that they can be seen in the crepes. They are precious, charming, docile bees and they are camera shy...

I've seen more bumblebees than usual, and some honeybees, but definitely less than in past years. We let the clover grow in our yard (to our neighbors' dismay) to help attract and feed them, and have hardly seen any.

They do seem *highly* attracted to my Paprika yarrow, and that is where I find them most often. In fact, there is always a small swarm of all kinds of flies, gnats, bees, and wasps hovering around the yarrow. Must smell good to them!

I had a bumble buzzing and dive-bombing me today as I tried to weed my daylily border. He was nuzzling the nearby sweetpeas, but apparently thought I was threatening his food supply.

Angie

Heres a picture of my new hive! Been a bee keeper for a few months without a sting:-)

I've never been stung, EXCEPT when a bee got caught in my flip flops! Poor baby, he was way worse off than I was...having the bees in the myrtles keeps them up high and stings are less likely...our bees are gentle and when we intrude, which is most often by accident, we all know to stand very still and the bees move on...

I am happy to hear there are others besides us who enjoy an abundance of all kinds of bees. I pay no attention to what the media say, and I know my bees don't either.

And ours are not camera shy.

I'm in Virginia and no bees for me. It is very sad - something has happened to our little bee friend.

This is from Burt Bee's web page - I took my kids awile ago to see The Bee Movie and Burt actually talks at the end of the movie about this disorder and the very scary potential it could have to ... no more fruits.... veggies or flowers.. Scientist say that with out the bee - there will be no humans... pretty freaky if you think about it.. but where are they all??

This is from
http://www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&contentPageId=531

Colony Collapse Disorder is the sudden die-off of honeybee colonies that has been occurring across the U.S. for several years now. The bee disappearance is so widespread that it is blamed for losses of up to 70% of the managed bee colonies in U.S. beekeeping operations. Estimates show that 23% of commercial beekeeping operations in the U.S, suffered from Colony Collapse Disorder in the winter of 2006-2007.

While the causes for Colony Collapse Disorder are unknown, we do know that forces like habitat destruction, misuse of pesticides, invasive species and global warming create risks to honeybees. That’s why Burt’s Bees is funding research by The Honeybee Health Improvement Project, which will focus on four critical areas

Breeding stock improvements
Best practices for commercial beekeeping
Promoting forage opportunities
Improving nutritional resources
With a well-respected team of researchers in place, the Project’s work will go a long way in preventing further outbreaks of Colony Collapse Disorder.

You can take action today and help make the planet a healthy place for bees. Simply sign up and we’ll send you a free packet of wildflower seeds that you can plant to give bees a healthy place to live in your neighborhood. We’ve also created a list of sites where you can search for local organic farmers who naturally create pesticide-free, bee-friendly environments while providing local communities with healthy fresh produce.

By saving the bees, we save a lot more than the bees.
Be involved. For The Greater Good.

All I know is that I don't read that stuff.......I just expect to have Bees.....and we do.

The bee population is not sad here, in southeast Arky. According to my own calculations, 45+ years in this community, and close connections throughout Arky, including the knowledge of persons 25+ years my senior, there are more bees in this state, this year, than ever, in the past. Our bees were here when I arrived in this rural, farming community, and they have 'followed' me to three locations in the same general neighborhood. Of course, I enticed them with the Natchez White crepe myrtle, which not only nourishes/feeds them, but protects them from from predators, including humans, who fear being stung, and chemicals, both from above and below. It is my opinion that I have an abundance of bees because they feel safe/comfortable here.

I'm most aware of Colony Collapse Disorder, but see no signs of such in my area, which includes, at least parts of, five states, six states, including Arky.

morganc, I'm a terrible photog, and my bees are soooooooo slow, because they are so heavily loaded with pollen, that anyone should be able to photo them - I will see if my grands might be able to snap a quality photo and, or, I will try to photoshop one of the photos I have, by changing the color of the bees, so that they can be seen. The bees are in my photos, but it's impossible to see them among the crepes. Oh, well.

Happy Wednesday night to all!!!

This message was edited Jul 9, 2008 9:17 PM

I've got bees here in Kentucky, thanks to a prolific rose of Sharon bush. I feel so fortunate to have them around--bumblebees & honeybees--and I put in a lot of anise hyssop and bee balm for them, to keep them around once the Japanese beetles finish off the Rose of Sharon...

They LOVE my lemon cuke...it probably has about 500 blossoms on it. We're very seriously considering becoming urban beekeepers in the near future. Right now, we're renting (and we've already dug up our entire backyard...with sort-of permission), so the chickens and bees may have to wait. :)

I have exactly 2 bees that come to visit my veggies. One is a big fat one more than an inch long and half as wide(I think it's something called a wood-borer,I have no idea). The second is much smaller and has fluffy hairs on the upper part of it's body. I swear these two are the only ones and the big one hasn't been around the last couple of days.

I live in Lebanon, Ohio which is between Cincinnati and Columbus. I think we DO have less bees this year. In previous years, you couldn't go to little league or soccer without bees trying to get in your soft-drinks but I just realized that I haven't had that problem this year at all. In fact, I don't remember seeing a single bee last weekend at my nephew's 3-day little league tourney.

Amyint----Start looking for the bees......you'll find them.

I wanted to let you guys know I found one bee this weekend... and I watched him for two days working his little butt off. Not in my garden but in the yard - that needs to be mowed bad. He was working the weeds. So i have decided that we are not going to mow that section of the yard - and I am not letting my husband fertilize this year (he's not happy) but I will see how long i can keep my one little hard working bee.

We are in Virginia about 20 south west of DC in Loudoun County