GoGardenNews - Items of gardening and ecological interest — pollinators

Science News recently published an interesting article about how flowers may act as antennas for bees. "Flowering plants may have a secret power for knowing when to lure pollinators."

By now you've heard about the trials and tribulations of honeybee populations around the world. Though honeybees are in decline, Israel is doing a better job of saving honeybees than most nations.

Karla Arboleda recently published an article in Vegetable and Specialty Crop News, Wildflowers Help Watermelon Pollinators. In it, she reports, on conclusions reached by Miriam Jenkins, a graduate of Clemson University’s Wildlife and Fisheries Biology program. "For greater fruit quantity and quality, growers can use wildflowers to attract watermelon pollinators."

The two obvious characteristics of hurricanes are very strong winds and heavy rainfall. Gardeners affected by direct hits are immediately concerned with the devastating impact upon their gardens. But there are other less obvious, but important consequences – pollinator injury or displacement, and pollination degradation.

Hurricanes can have long-term effects upon gardens the likes of which we’ve never much considered before. Considerate gardeners should try their best to restore their gardens as best they can in the wake of a storm.