David Green wrote:
>
Thomas Cornick writes:
>  >I am wondering if an orchard floor of clovers would attract enough bees to
>  be a pollination aid if the clover was mown when the fruit trees come into
>  bloom...<
>
>
>    This would not work; moreover it is a dangerous idea.
 
>    Orchardists are advised to get rid of the clover, or at least mow it close
> before the insecticide application, but this is often forgotten or ignored.
>  It causes especially bad kills if highly residual materials such as Penncap
> M (trademark) or Sevin WP (trademark) are used.  Bees carry home the poison
> with pollen and brood and young bees may die for weeks.  The contaminated
> pollen can even be covered with fresh pollen, then uncovered during winter,
> causing winter loss.
>
>    I highly recommend that this thought be quickly abandoned.
 
I am totally in agreement with David's thinking here.  He certainly has the experience to write
authoritatively on this subject.  I also have bees in an orchard, on a more or less permanent
arrangement.  I have an agreement with the orchardist to keep any blooming weeds out of the
orchard, and this includes clover.  He maintains a grass/hay cover under the trees for the very
reason David describes, and I have never had a pesticide problem in this yard for over 15
years.  I probably am fortunate to work with a person who really appreciates bees and
understands how they forage.  One thing is sure - you don't want to attract bees into the
orchard area after fruit bloom.  They're much better off elsewhere.
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA