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Garden Gate:  No bees???  |
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MrsRooster
True Blue Farmgirl
1168 Posts
Amy
Seabrook
TX
USA
1168 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 13 2010 : 09:53:20 AM
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My garden did so bad this year. Between the heat and the flooding rains, I haven't seen one bee. I had beautiful summer squash plants, cucumber plants, etc No bees and the blossoms just fell off.
Anyone else with this problem?
www.mrsrooster.blogspot.com
Farmgirl #1259
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Mama Jewel
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Jewel
Sweet Peas Farmette,
Bend, OR
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2010 : 1:43:09 PM
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Aww, sorry to hear this Amy. I think the clover, lavender & sage flowers helped bring about the bees (& butterflies) here
Farm Girl Sister #1683 Living Simply & Naturally on our lil Sweet Peas Farmette
"Do Everything in Love." 1 Cor 14
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - Jul 13 2010 : 2:30:13 PM
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I have lots of blossoms falling off of my squash and zucchini, but that's just because they're mostly all male blossoms. Figures I would even have squash plants that are all male LOL! I've heard that they tend to produce lots of male flowers in the beginning and I've gotten a couple of zucchinis this week and I've seen a few more female blossoms out there now too, so hopefully I will finally start getting some squash soon. Same with my cucumbers too. All male blossoms so far. I'm waiting for the females to show up. Story of my life...hahaha!
Farmgirl Sister #1110
Siobhan - AKA Liza-Jane (my farmgirl name), wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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katmom
True Blue Farmgirl
17476 Posts
Grace
WACAL Gal
WashCalif.
USA
17476 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 9:36:46 PM
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Hey Amy,
This has been an odd year for us up here, (West Plains of Spokane)...I am just now seeing a (very)few honey bees..We usually have lots of Mason bees but even their numbers seem to be down this year.
I have 125 lavender plants and usually my lavender attracts lots of bees, as does my Asters, mints, thyme etc...but with the off & on cold weather, rains and all of a sudden heat wave I think the poor bees are confused. But I am crossing my fingers that they will find their way over here...Even our butterflies & humming bird numbers seem down.
>^..^<
Happiness is being a katmom.
"Is it time for my Dirt Manicure yet!"
www.katmom4.blogspot.com & http://www.graciesvictorianrose.blogspot.com
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 10:23:06 PM
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Some one told me that they are looking into cell phones. And the lack of bees.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Jul 15 2010 : 10:57:34 PM
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I was told to sprinkle my plants with sugar water to draw them in. I did and it seemed to really help. I'm not gettin a bumper crop or anything, but I'm definitely doin better than the neighbors. I didn't even think about the lower number of bees, but we have almost no mason bees here at all this year. Usually it's hard to avoid them if you go outside, with the old barns, cedar siding on the house, railroad ties everywhere, and all the dead trees. I can't say I've even noticed a single one on the property this year. Weird!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2010 : 04:12:08 AM
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I usually have tons of honey bees but this year I have only seen a few. What I have alot of are bumble bees. All over the place. I have seen them all over the squash and tomatoes and other plants. And they LOVE the fallen rotten apples. There might be 50 of them on one apple. I think it's because of the big huge field of GMO corn across the road from me this year is the reason I have no honey bees.
So how can you tell which is a male and female blossom, Amy? They all look the same to me.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2010 : 05:14:25 AM
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I've looked them up on the internet and tried to identify them but I'm just no good at it I guess. Is there a trick to it that I'm not seein?
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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Ingrid
True Blue Farmgirl
432 Posts
Ingrid
BC
Canada
432 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2010 : 07:40:37 AM
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I've seen a lot less bees this year as well. Kind of scary. My italian plums trees hardly have anything on them because too much rain and too cold for the bees when they were flowering. Lots of apples.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
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clothedinscarlet
True Blue Farmgirl
1333 Posts
Siobhan
Battle Creek
MI
USA
1333 Posts |
Posted - Jul 16 2010 : 10:43:20 AM
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Kris, the female blossoms will have a fruit already attached to the back of the blossom. So, if the blossom is just attached to a stem only, it's a male. If it has a little tiny squash looking bump behind the blossom, it's a female.
Farmgirl Sister #1110
Siobhan - AKA Liza-Jane (my farmgirl name), wife to my best friend, Trent, and mommy to Camden (11/28/05) and Bennett (7/11/07). and Truman (7/28/09) |
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Garden Gate: No bees??? |
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No bees???
