Re: [apple-crop] native pollinators
indeed - the dandelions are empty - few bumblebees - I have a half dozen hives of honeybees on the property, managed by mediocre bee keeper, but they are flying - I have about 20 acres of tree fruit and have always considered the native pollinators to be adequate to the job, this year may be different - on the other hand, I don't know that I want a complete pollination job this year - I have been vacillating for the last 36 hours whether to call in some more honeybees - my current thinking is that I'll just ride what I have and count on it being enough - I'm in north central Indiana - D On May 2, 2013, at 1:06 PM, Frank Carlson wrote: David: I forgot where you are located. Here in Harvard, MA, we have just been commenting on the lack of wild bees as we are about to open on McIntosh. There also are less bumble bees visible . Frank Carlson Franklyn W. Carlson, Pres. Carlson Orchards, Inc. 115 Oak Hill Road P.O.Box 359 Harvard, MA. 01451 617-968-4180 cell 978-456-3916 office -Original Message- From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of David Doud Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 11:02 AM To: Apple-Crop Subject: [apple-crop] native pollinators Another casualty of last year's freak weather is the population of native pollinators - my asian pears entered full bloom over the last 48 hours - other years they are surrounded by a cloud of several species of solitary pollinators, this year that activity is roughly 10% of what I am accustomed to observing - The first apple bloom opened yesterday - 72 hours ago at tight cluster I considered the amount of bloom as 'full' but not particularly remarkable, now bloom has seemingly spontaneously generated to an amount that I cannot remember observing in the past - it's going to be spectacular, but has upped my anxiety about the potential 'big crop of little green apples' - hope thinners are effective ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] native pollinators
In the Hudson Valley of NY we are also finding very few native pollinators on dandelions as of late morning into the mid-afternoon. Carpenter bees are plentiful but few honeybees or orchard bees. By the end of the day we will be at 50% bloom on Ginger Gold with 1st bloom observed only yesterday. Blossoms opening on Golden Delicious and McIntosh today. Peter J. Jentsch Senior Extension Associate - Entomology Department of Entomology Cornell University¹s Hudson Valley Lab P.O. Box 727, 3357 Rt. 9W Highland, NY 12528 Office: 845-691-7151 Cell: 845-417-7465 FAX: 845-691-2719 On 5/2/13 2:03 PM, David Doud david_d...@me.com wrote: indeed - the dandelions are empty - few bumblebees - I have a half dozen hives of honeybees on the property, managed by mediocre bee keeper, but they are flying - I have about 20 acres of tree fruit and have always considered the native pollinators to be adequate to the job, this year may be different - on the other hand, I don't know that I want a complete pollination job this year - I have been vacillating for the last 36 hours whether to call in some more honeybees - my current thinking is that I'll just ride what I have and count on it being enough - I'm in north central Indiana - D On May 2, 2013, at 1:06 PM, Frank Carlson wrote: David: I forgot where you are located. Here in Harvard, MA, we have just been commenting on the lack of wild bees as we are about to open on McIntosh. There also are less bumble bees visible . Frank Carlson Franklyn W. Carlson, Pres. Carlson Orchards, Inc. 115 Oak Hill Road P.O.Box 359 Harvard, MA. 01451 617-968-4180 cell 978-456-3916 office -Original Message- From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of David Doud Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 11:02 AM To: Apple-Crop Subject: [apple-crop] native pollinators Another casualty of last year's freak weather is the population of native pollinators - my asian pears entered full bloom over the last 48 hours - other years they are surrounded by a cloud of several species of solitary pollinators, this year that activity is roughly 10% of what I am accustomed to observing - The first apple bloom opened yesterday - 72 hours ago at tight cluster I considered the amount of bloom as 'full' but not particularly remarkable, now bloom has seemingly spontaneously generated to an amount that I cannot remember observing in the past - it's going to be spectacular, but has upped my anxiety about the potential 'big crop of little green apples' - hope thinners are effective ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] native pollinators
I'm surprised. In my suburban-boston backyard, I have seen more bumblebees and other pollinators than in recent years. Maybe that's just because one of my neighbors sprayed less this year, or some similar very local effect. But just this weekend I was pleased by the number and variety of pollinators in my garden. -- Ginda Typed with Swype. Who knows what I intended to say? Peter J. Jentsch p...@cornell.edu wrote: In the Hudson Valley of NY we are also finding very few native pollinators on dandelions as of late morning into the mid-afternoon. Carpenter bees are plentiful but few honeybees or orchard bees. By the end of the day we will be at 50% bloom on Ginger Gold with 1st bloom observed only yesterday. Blossoms opening on Golden Delicious and McIntosh today. Peter J. Jentsch Senior Extension Associate - Entomology Department of Entomology Cornell University¹s Hudson Valley Lab P.O. Box 727, 3357 Rt. 9W Highland, NY 12528 Office: 845-691-7151 Cell: 845-417-7465 FAX: 845-691-2719 On 5/2/13 2:03 PM, David Doud david_d...@me.com wrote: indeed - the dandelions are empty - few bumblebees - I have a half dozen hives of honeybees on the property, managed by mediocre bee keeper, but they are flying - I have about 20 acres of tree fruit and have always considered the native pollinators to be adequate to the job, this year may be different - on the other hand, I don't know that I want a complete pollination job this year - I have been vacillating for the last 36 hours whether to call in some more honeybees - my current thinking is that I'll just ride what I have and count on it being enough - I'm in north central Indiana - D On May 2, 2013, at 1:06 PM, Frank Carlson wrote: David: I forgot where you are located. Here in Harvard, MA, we have just been commenting on the lack of wild bees as we are about to open on McIntosh. There also are less bumble bees visible . Frank Carlson Franklyn W. Carlson, Pres. Carlson Orchards, Inc. 115 Oak Hill Road P.O.Box 359 Harvard, MA. 01451 617-968-4180 cell 978-456-3916 office -Original Message- From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of David Doud Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 11:02 AM To: Apple-Crop Subject: [apple-crop] native pollinators Another casualty of last year's freak weather is the population of native pollinators - my asian pears entered full bloom over the last 48 hours - other years they are surrounded by a cloud of several species of solitary pollinators, this year that activity is roughly 10% of what I am accustomed to observing - The first apple bloom opened yesterday - 72 hours ago at tight cluster I considered the amount of bloom as 'full' but not particularly remarkable, now bloom has seemingly spontaneously generated to an amount that I cannot remember observing in the past - it's going to be spectacular, but has upped my anxiety about the potential 'big crop of little green apples' - hope thinners are effective ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] native pollinators
Yup, same thing here. I suspect that natural population dynamics are taking it's usual course. As a kid living on Greenwich Bay in Rhode Island I remember years when the eels were so thick you dared not swim. Same for jellyfish. Next ten years, none. One year clams in such abundance that you hardly needed to move to fill a bucket, the next year you'd dig for hours. Now as an apple grower some years tarnished plant bugs seem to be everywhere, the next, no where. Spotted Wing Dros. here today, ummm probably here tomorrow too!. If I were to blame spraying pesticides for any decline in bee population, I'd suggest that our switch to much less toxic materials has led to bees carrying the materials home to the hive rather than dying in the field. Perhaps the surge in organic pesticides means fewer bees dying in the field, instead carrying safer materials home. Just a thought! Mo Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough, MA On Thu, May 2, 2013 at 5:03 PM, Ginda Fisher l...@ginda.us wrote: I'm surprised. In my suburban-boston backyard, I have seen more bumblebees and other pollinators than in recent years. Maybe that's just because one of my neighbors sprayed less this year, or some similar very local effect. But just this weekend I was pleased by the number and variety of pollinators in my garden. -- Ginda Typed with Swype. Who knows what I intended to say? Peter J. Jentsch p...@cornell.edu wrote: In the Hudson Valley of NY we are also finding very few native pollinators on dandelions as of late morning into the mid-afternoon. Carpenter bees are plentiful but few honeybees or orchard bees. By the end of the day we will be at 50% bloom on Ginger Gold with 1st bloom observed only yesterday. Blossoms opening on Golden Delicious and McIntosh today. Peter J. Jentsch Senior Extension Associate - Entomology Department of Entomology Cornell University¹s Hudson Valley Lab P.O. Box 727, 3357 Rt. 9W Highland, NY 12528 Office: 845-691-7151 Cell: 845-417-7465 FAX: 845-691-2719 On 5/2/13 2:03 PM, David Doud david_d...@me.com wrote: indeed - the dandelions are empty - few bumblebees - I have a half dozen hives of honeybees on the property, managed by mediocre bee keeper, but they are flying - I have about 20 acres of tree fruit and have always considered the native pollinators to be adequate to the job, this year may be different - on the other hand, I don't know that I want a complete pollination job this year - I have been vacillating for the last 36 hours whether to call in some more honeybees - my current thinking is that I'll just ride what I have and count on it being enough - I'm in north central Indiana - D On May 2, 2013, at 1:06 PM, Frank Carlson wrote: David: I forgot where you are located. Here in Harvard, MA, we have just been commenting on the lack of wild bees as we are about to open on McIntosh. There also are less bumble bees visible . Frank Carlson Franklyn W. Carlson, Pres. Carlson Orchards, Inc. 115 Oak Hill Road P.O.Box 359 Harvard, MA. 01451 617-968-4180 cell 978-456-3916 office -Original Message- From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of David Doud Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2013 11:02 AM To: Apple-Crop Subject: [apple-crop] native pollinators Another casualty of last year's freak weather is the population of native pollinators - my asian pears entered full bloom over the last 48 hours - other years they are surrounded by a cloud of several species of solitary pollinators, this year that activity is roughly 10% of what I am accustomed to observing - The first apple bloom opened yesterday - 72 hours ago at tight cluster I considered the amount of bloom as 'full' but not particularly remarkable, now bloom has seemingly spontaneously generated to an amount that I cannot remember observing in the past - it's going to be spectacular, but has upped my anxiety about the potential 'big crop of little green apples' - hope thinners are effective ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop -- Maurice Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough,MA 01532 508-450-0844 ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net
Re: [apple-crop] native pollinators
Interesting, I was just observing full bloom sweet cherry yesterday afternoon and made a mental note that native bee/pollinator activity seemed to be light. There are no honeybees brought into the orchard yet, we wait for apples. Normally, they (the native pollinators) are really swarming the sweet cherries because they are the only thing in bloom at the time. Today activity seemed lacking again. It's been very dry here, is there any possibility there is a lack of nectar? That might not explain David's observation in Indiana though? Seems to be a theme here, but maybe Mo is right -- just plain natural (i.e. chaotic) population swings? Anyway, who needs bees? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsl7sILSGoU On Thu, May 2, 2013 at 11:01 AM, David Doud david_d...@me.com wrote: Another casualty of last year's freak weather is the population of native pollinators - my asian pears entered full bloom over the last 48 hours - other years they are surrounded by a cloud of several species of solitary pollinators, this year that activity is roughly 10% of what I am accustomed to observing - The first apple bloom opened yesterday - 72 hours ago at tight cluster I considered the amount of bloom as 'full' but not particularly remarkable, now bloom has seemingly spontaneously generated to an amount that I cannot remember observing in the past - it's going to be spectacular, but has upped my anxiety about the potential 'big crop of little green apples' - hope thinners are effective David Doud grower IN ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop -- Jon Clements aka 'Mr Honeycrisp' UMass Cold Spring Orchard 393 Sabin St. Belchertown, MA 01007 413-478-7219 umassfruit.com ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] native pollinators
Jon: Is there more to say of the leaf-blower alternative? Is this a first-time trial? Problems? It looks appears to have advantages over the stilts and dabbing trials I ran some years ago, though uniformity of set is likely not so good. David Kollas Kollas Orchard, Tolland, CT On May 2, 2013, at 8:00 PM, Jon Clements wrote: Interesting, I was just observing full bloom sweet cherry yesterday afternoon and made a mental note that native bee/pollinator activity seemed to be light. There are no honeybees brought into the orchard yet, we wait for apples. Normally, they (the native pollinators) are really swarming the sweet cherries because they are the only thing in bloom at the time. Today activity seemed lacking again. It's been very dry here, is there any possibility there is a lack of nectar? That might not explain David's observation in Indiana though? Seems to be a theme here, but maybe Mo is right -- just plain natural (i.e. chaotic) population swings? Anyway, who needs bees? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsl7sILSGoU On Thu, May 2, 2013 at 11:01 AM, David Doud david_d...@me.com wrote: Another casualty of last year's freak weather is the population of native pollinators - my asian pears entered full bloom over the last 48 hours - other years they are surrounded by a cloud of several species of solitary pollinators, this year that activity is roughly 10% of what I am accustomed to observing - The first apple bloom opened yesterday - 72 hours ago at tight cluster I considered the amount of bloom as 'full' but not particularly remarkable, now bloom has seemingly spontaneously generated to an amount that I cannot remember observing in the past - it's going to be spectacular, but has upped my anxiety about the potential 'big crop of little green apples' - hope thinners are effective David Doud grower IN ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop -- Jon Clements aka 'Mr Honeycrisp' UMass Cold Spring Orchard 393 Sabin St. Belchertown, MA 01007 413-478-7219 umassfruit.com ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
