> This must have affected other pollinating insects as well as
> honeybees. Did
> you notice whether the flowering periods of plants were prolonged as a
> consequence, ie, did the plants wait around for the bees to arrive?

Chris,

Yes, some things seemed to bloom longer, others were confused. Pineapple
sage bloomed early (mid-spring), stopped and should still bloom on time in
Sept.  I'm still picking blueberries, although they are usually long gone.
But, many days I could fine alternate pollinators out in force and the bees
camping out, as it had just stopped raining or looked about to start again
(it was grey and overcast for weeks on end -- it even made the news farther
north, as SAD incidences were way up and occurring well into spring.  But I
didn't notice black locust or tulip poplar staying open longer (and the rain
beat off blooms at a high rate, so that may have contributed).  Poplar forms
such a big cup, any rain will dilute or wash out the nectar - other things
were mainly affected by the bees simply being unable to get out of the house
for long at a time.

Karen

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