While traipsing through the farmer’s market last weekend, I met a beekeeper with an interesting question. Having heard that honey bees are poor pollinators of alfalfa, she wanted to know where alfalfa honey comes from. How does that work? Honey bees are, indeed, second-rate pollinators when it comes to alfalfa. When the bee sits on […] Read more
Some questions surprise me because they reappear so frequently, but what is it with Brussels sprouts? For decades I’ve heard nothing about Brussels sprouts, but suddenly every third visitor wants to know how to pollinate them. I do not understand. I endure Brussels sprouts mostly because my husband likes them and they are good for […] Read more
No. Grasses are flowering plants that are wind pollinated. Since the grasses do not need to attract animal pollinators, the plants do not expend energy to produce colorful petals, nectars, or attractive odors. However, the grass family feeds a large portion of the human population. According to the Food and Agriculture Association (FAO), the big […] Read more
Pregnancy is an all-or-nothing situation; a woman either is or she isn’t. But in plants, the situation is very different. Partial or incomplete fertilization occurs when some of the ovules are pollinated and some are not. Insufficient pollination limits the number of seeds that can be formed, but it can also have a large impact […] Read more
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is traditionally celebrated with an over-sized meal based on a stuffed turkey. Since the turkey always takes center stage, many refer to it as “turkey day.” However, to be fair, we should call it “bee day.” Think about bees as you eat broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, squash, turnips, […] Read more
Rusty, Daffodils have lost the need to be pollinated because they are grown from bulbs! The only reason they still have flowers is that the bulbs are selected from those that produce the nicest blooms. Plant breeders keep seed-fertile varieties in order to continue hybridizing. But these don’t make it to market: only bulbs grown […] Read more
No, no. I meant they wear what they eat. Imagine going to the store for peanut butter and coming home slathered in the stuff. That’s what bees like to do. Pollination is enhanced by the pollen that sticks to the hairs of the bee’s body. This pollen adheres easily, and when the bee brushes against […] Read more