Bee Gone in the Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

jmorth

Mar 2, 2013 4:37 AM CST

Thread OP

central Illinois

Disappearing Bumble Bees article
http://www.wunderground.com/ne...

Nothing that's been done can ever be changed.

| @jmorth | Post #366060 (1)

sheryl

Mar 2, 2013 5:14 PM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)

Hunh.... and the article believes that it's a combo of disease and parasites. Interesting. I don't think pesticides should be ruled out as a culprit - but then again, I have no proof of that.

In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.

| @sheryl | Post #366360 (2)

LindaTX8

Mar 3, 2013 12:06 AM CST

Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)

Sheryl, this article is sure agreeing with you!
http://news.nationalgeographic...
If I were them, I'd check out the effect of the GMO and Roundup-ready crops also. I'm pretty sure those are contributing to the decline of Monarchs, anyway.

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad

| @LindaTX8 | Post #366568 (3)

sheryl

Mar 3, 2013 11:50 AM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)

Hey, at least someone agrees, lol.

I'm trying my darndest to not use pest/herbicides. I'm ordering one of those "weed burners", probably from Gardener's Supply. The only last sticking point is Bermuda grass. Hopefully it will be in tiny, limited spots. Hate that stuff.

In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.

| @sheryl | Post #366708 (4)

LindaTX8

Mar 3, 2013 2:40 PM CST

Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)

I also hate KR Bluestem grass! It's nonnative and extremely invasive. I've given up on ridding my place of it, but hope to get it at least out of my yard!

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad

| @LindaTX8 | Post #366798 (5)

sheryl

Mar 3, 2013 2:57 PM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)

Best of luck ... have you tried solarization?

In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.

| @sheryl | Post #366805 (6)

LindaTX8

Mar 3, 2013 4:01 PM CST

Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)

I have over 2 acres, with trees and shrubs, etc. I don't think solarization would kill the very deep roots of this grass anyway. I would hate to use herbicides...but those might work if used repeatedly. The numerous seeds could still germinate later...a lot of work involved. I eliminated almost all of that grass in the yard, then my health declined and I haven't been able to keep up with it much.

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad

| @LindaTX8 | Post #366832 (7)

sheryl

Mar 3, 2013 5:41 PM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)

Depends, kinda - if you have a whopping sunny summer, it might work at least on the parts you've treated. I have used it successfully on Bermuda, and left on long enough it would probably also kill many of the seeds in the top layer of your soil.

Regardless, good luck with it!

In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.

| @sheryl | Post #366883 (8)

jmorth

Mar 10, 2013 1:19 AM CST

Thread OP

central Illinois

Another interesting article, this one's on Buzzed Up Bees
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03...

Nothing that's been done can ever be changed.

| @jmorth | Post #370719 (9)

LindaTX8

Mar 10, 2013 1:00 PM CST

Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)

Well, that was fascinating! I didn't even know caffeine could be in any flower nectar!

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad

| @LindaTX8 | Post #370915 (10)

Marilyn

Mar 11, 2013 12:38 AM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

LindaTX8 said:Well, that was fascinating! I didn't even know caffeine could be in any flower nectar!

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #371299 (11)

LindaTX8

Mar 11, 2013 9:59 AM CST

Name: Linda Williams
Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a)

I found another article that said that besides coffee plants, various citrus plants have caffeine in their nectar. So I guess, if you have citrus flowers, bees will stop by and get their caffeine...makes me wish I had some citrus! If I could find a citrus tree I could put in the ground that would provide good enough citrus fruit and still tolerate the cold out here, I'd do it. Lately, I heard about one, "Orange Frost", which is very cold hardy, but it's not widely available yet.

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. E. B.White
Integrity can never be taken. It can only be given, and I wasn't going to give it up to these people. Gary Mowad

| @LindaTX8 | Post #371491 (12)

sheryl

Mar 13, 2013 10:14 PM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)