tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316581347076542906.post8608876476152495273..comments2023-03-27T05:52:12.339-07:00Comments on Idora Design: Buckeyes vs. BeesChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07938196559124125578noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316581347076542906.post-63049715884749767992010-02-03T08:15:44.477-08:002010-02-03T08:15:44.477-08:00Hi Brad! Ask and you shall receive, huh? Thank y...Hi Brad! Ask and you shall receive, huh? Thank you!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07938196559124125578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316581347076542906.post-69327669407016602442010-02-03T08:15:10.486-08:002010-02-03T08:15:10.486-08:00Clare, the diversity makes sense. It reminds me o...Clare, the diversity makes sense. It reminds me of the diversity needed for habitat planting- food for larvae, butterflies, birds, hummingbirds, etc. I guess if you're already doing that, the bees might be taken care of by themselves. In your case, that probably means cover crops of wildflowers under the fruit trees. If you haven't checked out the Pollinator Conservation Handbook, I Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07938196559124125578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316581347076542906.post-7052358790867447232010-02-02T21:19:29.952-08:002010-02-02T21:19:29.952-08:00I hadn't heard of this and don't have much...I hadn't heard of this and don't have much to offer yet, but my cousin did research with Gordon Frankie at Berkeley. Though they mostly seem to focus on native bees. I just sent her a message to see if she knows more. If I find anything out I'll let you know.Bradhttp://rootedincalifornia.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316581347076542906.post-89714542002620568152010-02-02T11:14:39.038-08:002010-02-02T11:14:39.038-08:00I'm not entirely sure what a Mason Bee class e...I'm not entirely sure what a Mason Bee class entails, beyond their value as orchard pollinators, and their requirements in so far as enticing them to stick around. I don't know much about them yet, beyond the fact they are an endemic bee species, and bee-for-bee, apparently more efficient pollinators than the European honey bee. If I learn anything really valuable this weekend, maybe I&Curbstone Valley Farmhttp://curbstonevalley.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316581347076542906.post-87952374397688150012010-02-02T09:02:46.007-08:002010-02-02T09:02:46.007-08:00Oh crap, Clare- what does a Mason Bee class entail...Oh crap, Clare- what does a Mason Bee class entail? That sounds so cool! Thanks for a new path for extensive internet research!<br />Noelle- I know, it doesn't sound fun at all. Native bees aren't bothered, though. It's kind of like being raised on tuna noodle casserole and trying spicy Thai food for the first time. Not that I've lost my hair, but it can be intense! I think Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07938196559124125578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316581347076542906.post-72175860836105665662010-02-01T22:06:42.333-08:002010-02-01T22:06:42.333-08:00I had never heard about a plant being poisonous to...I had never heard about a plant being poisonous to bees before. Turning black, shiny and losing your hair does not sound like fun before you die. Is this plant a hybrid that was developed? If not, and it appears in nature naturally, and not too many bees visit, then maybe it is okay?Noelle Johnson https://www.blogger.com/profile/12198931083102476324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6316581347076542906.post-72916873895373919732010-02-01T16:48:32.137-08:002010-02-01T16:48:32.137-08:00Fascinating! I'd never heard that Aesculus po...Fascinating! I'd never heard that Aesculus pollen was toxic to European Honey Bees. Afraid I can't offer much info. Maybe you could email Eric Mussen, the extension apiculturist at UC Davis? He writes their bee newsletter. <br />http://entomology.ucdavis.edu/faculty/facpage.cfm?id=mussen<br /><br />I'm taking a Mason Bee class this weekend, I'll ask the instructor of the Curbstone Valley Farmhttp://curbstonevalley.com/blog/noreply@blogger.com