Trees, Bees, and Pollination
With today’s concerns about so many things negatively impacting our environment, the silent crisis of pollination can easily go unnoticed — and fruit trees and ornamentals are center stage in this important issue. The good news is that at least some of the problem can be addressed by all of us through a few simple but essential actions.
It is not much of an exaggeration when the National Park Service issues a warning that “life, as we know it, depends on pollinators.” But who or what are the pollinators and what’s the problem?
Bees, of course, are the rock stars of the pollination world. However, they are joined by other creatures that, like the bees, go about visiting blossoms, inadvertently transferring pollen from one flower to another. The results are the fruits, vegetables, and ornamental flowers we value and often take for granted. Not to be overlooked as pollinators are bats, butterflies, beetles, and other insects. Even birds, especially hummingbirds, do some pollinating. Wind and splashing raindrops round out the other pollinating agents. Together, more than 75% of the Earth’s flowering plants depend on pollination.
The sad part is that the number of pollinators is falling drastically. Domestic beekeepers report as much as 42% annual losses. Populations of wild bumblebees are also falling, and several wild bee species in the U.S. are at risk of extinction.
The perils for pollinators include disease, parasites, shrinking habitat, indiscriminate use of pesticides, climate change, and lack of a diverse food supply. Of these causes, at least four can be directly addressed by tree boards and individuals who work with trees and gardens.
In This Bulletin
Here’s what’s inside:
- Pollination: How It Works – breaking down the process
- Bees in the Orchard – important for fruit production
- Bees and Landscape Trees – good choices to support pollinators
- Gardens to Invite Pollinators – adding a pollinator garden to public spaces or your own yard
- Taking Action for Pollinators – organizations dedicated to improving pollinator habitat
- Make a Bee Hotel – tips for DIY options
