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OT- Where are all the bees?
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Posted by
northerner_on Z5A ONCanada (
My Page) on
Tue, Jul 31, 12 at 1:05
| I thought I would check here to see if anyone else is noticing a marked absence of bees in the garden. I have two stands of Agastache loaded with purple fragrant blooms and not a single bee around. My garden is mainly a butterfly and bee garden and at this time of year, I have to be careful of not getting in the way of yellow jackets, honey bees, and other stinging insects pollinating my squash, cucumbers, zucchini, etc. but this year - nothing. What alarmed me is that yesterday I saw a yellow jacket, dead. Is this a trend or is there something in my yard keeping them away? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| I've got lots of honey bees on my black and blue salvias and tons of bumble bees. But I also have a bumper crop of bald face hornets and yellow jackets. But on days with triple digit heat, I only see them in the early morning and around water sources with our droughty conditions. The heat and drought also seems to have pushed yellow jackets into their hyper agrressive fall behavoir early this summer. |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| I am missing bees as well! I got a lot of butterflies, no bees! |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| They're all at my cabin in central MN. The gardens at the lake are full of bees - bumbles, honey, carpenters, as well as yellow jackets, etc.... You can stand on the porch and hear a constant loud buzz from dawn to dusk. It makes seed collecting harder since the buzz is so loud it freaks me out a bit. They haven't bothered me and I have no plans on bothering them - they have helped the garden look it's best yet! Shoot there's lots at my home gardens too! We've had lots of bee's the last few years. |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| Got plenty of pollinators here too. It was a little bit of a slow start this year - it seems that things were blooming earlier than usual, and the bees hadn't quite populated that early. But there are tons of them out there now. I'm seeing lots of bees, butterflies, hummingbird moths, wasps, etc. A few hummingbirds too, although I think my regular female hummer who has come for years has perished, and a new generation of hummer(s) has taken her place. Hope that you see more bees soon! |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| I am really feeling quite jealous of all of you!!! I have new neighbours with lots of dogs in their yard. They seem to be keeping the ground hogs and racoons at bay, but I wonder if there's a connection with the bees. I hope they're on their way. Just one cuke, 2 zucchini, lots of blooms but no fruit. It's still very hot here - 37 degrees forecast for Saturday. Maybe they don't like the weather either!! |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| We got bees. A few more honeybees than the last couple years. Some bumblebees. Not as many of those 50 pound wood bees or whatever they are. We actually saw Giant Asian Hornets. google it see a pix you wont believe it. My husband thought it was a wasp dragging a locust carcas up a tree. But then I saw THREE of them hovering around in the cemetary behind my house. They are GINORMOUS! and scary. :( |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| As they say, all good things come to those who wait. We have finally a had a few days of rain and the bees are here in full flight. Not only are the bees here but the Agastache is full of butterflies: painted ladies, black swallotails, monarchs, and the little cabbage whites. Today I noticed a few black wasps, but they soon left when they noticed they were outnumbered. So obviously, the hot, dry weather had someting to do with it. I hope they stick around for my fall crops. What a great feeling just to watch them hover around the plant, which is over 6 feet tall. Mother Nature at her best!! |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| I've loads of bees and butterflies, and skeeters galore. The air above the plants is alive with winged things. I've got more pollinators than ever before, but I've each year increased my pollinator attracting plants. If you plant them they will come. About two weeks back I found out the hard way that there was a wasp nest in the compost heap. Nice to know I can still run so fast. |
Here is a link that might be useful: OSU Master List for links for attracting pollinators (PDF)
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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- Posted by bakemom z6 Central Ohio (My Page) on
Sun, Aug 19, 12 at 17:04
| Bees are all here! I have had a ton this year. I live near two parks and a golf course. I guess the word got out that flowers are at my place. |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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| A neighbor is a bee keeper. All his bees are in my yard on the mountain mint and then on the basil I let flower for them. They love it! |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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- Posted by sjc48 5 Michigan (My Page) on
Mon, Aug 20, 12 at 20:49
They were slow to start in my gardens, too. Now there are lots and lots of them. Not as many different kinds as last year tho.
I'm having a disappointing year, in a way, with butterflies. No ETS, Buckeyes or RSPs yet. And not too many of the others.
Shirley |
RE: OT- Where are all the bees?
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