Content-Transfer-Encoding: |
7bit |
Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Sat, 14 Jun 1997 19:34:26 -0700 |
Content-Type: |
text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 |
MIME-Version: |
1.0 |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
I am in the process of writing the "Gardening for Wildlife" section for
the FAQ for the proposed new newsgroup rec.gardens.ecosystems.
I'm a better gardener than a bee keeper and I'm not all that
comfortable about my comments regarding bees and bee keeping.
Would some kind hearted bee keeper look over my attached draft
and tell me how to do it better.
Thanks
Bill
____________________________________________________________
I.02.*: Attracting Bees and other Pollinators
I.02.00: Introduction to Attracting Bees and other Pollinators
Pollen is the male germ cell and pollination is when these male
germs cells are moved to the female part of the flower. Self
pollination is when pollen is transferred from the male to the
female parts on the same flower. Cross-pollination is when
pollen from one plant is transferred to another plant of the
same species. The resulting offspring from cross-pollinated
plants are more vigorous and seemingly more disease resistant.
Plants produce nectar to attract insects to them so that the
flowers can be pollinated. There are many insects that are
attracted to this nectar and in the process pollinate the
flowers. Bees, as a group however, are unique in that the
nectar is their base source for carbohydrates and the pollen
is their base source of fat and protein. Bees are the primary
pollinators of many plants. The honey bee population is down
at the present time. It is impacting on gardens and
agriculture.
The best way to attract these various pollinators to the garden
is through the use of nectar producing plants. This sub-section
is about the use of the major and minor "honey plants" to
attract bees and other pollinators to the garden; the use of
water and propolis as attractants; and a guide to the major
references and resources on bee keeping.
I.02.01:
Q: What are the best plants to attract bees to my garden?
A: It varies with the region. "The Complete Guide to Bee-
keeping" by Roger A. Morse lists the "major honey plants" as:
Alfalfa, Aster, Basswood, Buckwheat, Clover, Goldenrod, Locust,
Orange, Raspberry, Tulip Tree, and Wild Thyme. Morse adds that
there are two hundred or more "minor honey plants" as well.
Best bet is to talk with your local agricultural agent to
learn which plants do the best job of attracting pollinators
in your area.
I.02.02:
Q: I live in a crowded suburb with neighbors on both side. Is
it feasible for me to keep bees?
A: Screens seem to work in guiding bees over areas or
structures close to the hive and there is some beekeeping that
goes on in suburban and urban areas without any real problem.
It would be a good idea, however, to talk it through with your
neighbors and to check with the local authorities. There are
some communities with ordinances forbidding beekeeping.
I.02.03:
Q: How about having a FAQ on bee keeping?
A: There is a lot of interest and a lot of material on bee
keeping. It warrents more than a section in this FAQ. There is
already a good amount of material on bee keeping on the
Internet. See "The Internet Apiculture and Beekeeping Archive
at <http://sunsite.unc.edu/bees/home.html>; "The International
Bee Research Association's web page at <http://www.cardiff.ac.
uk/ibra>; and "The Beekeeping Home Page at <http://weber.u.
washington.edu/~jlks/b>. There is also the bee keeping news-
letter, [log in to unmask]
I.02.04:
I.02.05:
I.02.06:
|
|
|