Gardening and Horticulture - Pollinators?

Have you noticed a lack of honey bees and butterfly's in your area? I haven't seen one honey bee or butterfly this year. It seems that honey bees are disappearing from North America (Colony Collapse Disorder). Some project that at the current rate of decline honey bees will be extinct by 2035.

Since honey bees and butterfly's are the main pollinators of food crops things should become real interesting in a few years. In some areas the Chinese are already hand pollinating figs.

It's really sad that these wonderful creatures are disappearing at an alarming rate yet people continue to use chemicals in their gardens and on their farms that kill them.

Newt

Loss of a taxon is sad. Loss of biodiversity is cataclysmic. The real tragedy is mans indifference to his own survival and the assertion that nature is subservient and must acquiesce to what ever population level exists.

Two years ago, honey bees, butterfly's, sparrows, and humming birds, were abundant. Last year I noticed a decline. This year all have vanished, except for a half a dozen sparrows in ten square miles. I see Soylent Green on the horizon.

I'm ecstatic! A bumble bee flew into my garage, (said “I'm back”) then left.

Wonderful!! Spring is on it's way and maybe some pollinators as well.

Newt

I saw the first bumble bee today here on Whidbey island. Spring cannot be far away. Yipee.:D

What wonderful news that bees are being seen! Happy Spring! :D

Newt