The bees have returned !

[kentuck]

There is a small scraggly fruit bush of some sort that grows in my back yard. It is the first tree to bloom in the spring. I noticed a couple of days ago that there were a lot of bees swarming the blossoms. This is unusual as compared to last year. Perhaps I shall plant some tomatoes this year? :-)

[FARAFIELD]

1. They are KILLERS watch out

although if i could hang with rene zellwegger I would be a bee.

[Lorien]

2. Noticed some on my walk today too

I didn't see ANY honey bees last year. Here's hoping for a significant recovery!

[Lex]

3. honey bees

or :shrug:

[kentuck]

5. They looked like honey bees..?

They weren't wasps. :-)

[Lex]

10. pretty much the same assesement I have

of the bees that swarmed my rosemary bush when it was in bloom a month ago :hi:

[Crewleader]

4. Good idea on the tomatoes Kentuck

they are so good for your health and with prices at the store makes you wise to plant.

Hope all is well with you, and your family. I'm doing ok my friend! :hi:

[kentuck]

6. Crew !!!

So good to hear from you! Speaking of tomatoes...! :-)

[opihimoimoi]

20. Aloha to Crew...let me join the welcome sight of an ole friend..

Sending good will to all.

Suggest looking for good seeds from rep catalogs....pref F1 Gen...like BIG RED....

[madeline_con]

7. Our tomatoes are beautiful!

grow some by all means!

[JaneQPublic]

8. Go for the tomatoes, Kentuck.

You'll be glad you did.

I bought three grape tomato plants today at the first Farmers' Market of the season. A lovely older couple sold them to me. They seemed happy they were going to a good home. I can't wait to have those little gems on my salads.

Oh, and I'm always glad to hear good news concerning bees.

[shraby]

9. There is a product that will "set" the blossoms

of the tomatoes if the bees don't do the work. You can find it in the store. I've had to use it when it stays a bit too cool and the bees don't do their stuff.

[GrannyK]

11. Tomatoes don't require bees for pollination

Their flowers have both male and female parts. :) All that is required is for the flowers to be rustled a little...by the wind or by hand (just give a little shake to the plant)
Fruit trees do require bees.

[Politicalboi]

21. Tomato is a fruit

Not that I know if they need to be pollinated by bees or not.

[EFerrari]

12. I saw some bees on our walk this morning.

First time in a long time. They were hanging out in some lilacs. :)

[eppur_se_muova]

13. I saw about half a dozen dead bees on the sidewalk ...

nearby, one of our many campus flower beds, with a little yellow sign warning to keep pets and children away because of RECENT PESTICIDE APPLICATION ... :banghead:

[bluedawg12]

15. Bring this to the attention of your Biology department

maybe someone will gave a damn about natural life.

Worth a try.

[B Calm]

14. I see a lot of Yellow Jackets

[JDPriestly]

16. Here in L.A., we have no figs developing on our fig tree

and no avocados developing on our avocado trees. I saw what I thought were lots of bees a number of weeks ago, but I'm not seeing any now. I don't know what happened. We could still get some avocados or figs, but I expected to have a few now.

[TalkingDog]

19. Common Figs don't require pollination.

although a couple of specialized types do.

Cool weather can be a factor. Insects don't like it cool. I don't know how it's been over your way, but from what I can tell, most of the country is having a coolish spell.

[tularetom]

17. We have a small grove of orange trees

and two weeks or so ago it was so noisy with the sound of bees buzzing when you walked down the rows between the trees you could barely hear your own voice. Most bees I've seen in years actually.

Smelled good too.

[orleans]

18. i saw a couple of those huge fucking bumblebees around my patio

and back door the other day. and some wasps a couple weeks ago when it was hot.

haven't seen honeybees.

[ccharles000]

22. I hate bees.

We have Wisteria on some trees and we cannot enjoy them because of the bees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisteria

Wisteria is the most beautiful plant.

[ThomWV]

23. As an exbeekeeper I know them when I see them, their numbers are up

It is noticable here in northern West Virginia, their numbers are up compared to the last couple of years. Last year for instance my wife and I constantly commented that they were almost completely gone. I didn't see a dozen honey bees all of last year. However this year its much different. I actually counted them on thursday when we were weeding in an area where we planted random flowers last year. I saw 7 at one time within an area of maybe 50 square feet. That is a very large increase hereabout but of course it could be as insignificant as a single hive that has survived nearby. There are no bee keepers within at least 2 miles of me either.