Getting concerned about the bees this year, other than a bumble or two we just weren't seeing any bees on the plants on the farm. The blossoms came and went without the usual covering of bees on our seven or so apple trees on the farm . The plum we got from Dad also normally covered in thousands of bees along with numerous varieties of mason bees was also devoid of life we normally saw in the spring. Our weeping cherry likewise, dandelions, lilacs, and Russia olives and honeysuckle saw no bees either. It has been an odd year, odd storms, 95 degree days seemed earlier than normal and wetter than I remember in recent years.
I did a quick search as we became more concerned, found this study that seems to confirm what we're seeing, 65-percent-of-New-Hampshire-bee-hives-lost. This can't be good, we don't eat the apples we grow, the deer on the property do though, I have a sinking feeling that there simply won't be any this year without the pollinators. Will be curious to see how the various harvests fare this year.
Local Ace hardware is selling bee hive kits and accessories, I've been considering getting a hive, been collecting articles on getting started with bees for a couple years now, maybe this will be the push I need. Time will tell how this die off will impact the local farms and orchards.
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