Honey Bees and Other Pollinators Need Our Help

Tri-Colored Bumble Bee (Bombus-ternarius) on Dandelion

 As spring blooms have come out, so too has more news about the dire situation of the earth's pollinators. To find out more I attended a pollinator workshop, held at Carter Hill Orchard in Concord and organized by the Merrimack County Conservation District. The owners of Carter Hill Orchard, the Larocque family, have set aside a plot of land that will be turned into a pollinator habitat, offering blooms, and a food source for pollinators throughout the growing season, and not just in the spring when the apple trees are in bloom. The Larocque's recognize the importance of helping honey bees and other pollinators as their livelihood depends upon there being a healthy pollinator population for years to come.

There were plenty of blooms at Carter Hill Orchard on May 13, the day of the Pollinator Workshop

The workshop speaker was pollinator expert from the Xerces Society, Eric Mader. He identified three requirements for the survival of wild bees - pollen and nectar sources, availability of nesting habitat and protection from pesticides. Fortunately, these are three areas that we as individuals can address. Home gardeners love plants, be it vegetables or flowers. So as you peruse the nursery in search of what to plant this year, select plants that have varying bloom times. This will not only beautify your garden throughout the year, but you will ensure an adequate food source for pollinators from spring into fall. At Carter Hill, they are dedicating a plot of land next to their apple trees and blueberry bushes to be a future pollinator garden. The participants of the workshop were able to go outside and view the site where the project will be developed later this year. Examples of plants that are adaptable to New England climate were available. When shopping, try to purchase native when available.

Eric Mader describes how to create a pollinator habitat

Starting with bare soil is important so that the new plants and seeds have an opportunity to take hold without competition from grasses. At home, this can be done by either turning the soil over, or an easier way, although it takes more time is to cover the desired area with a thick layering of newspapers, then mulch heavily. By the following year, the area should be ready for planting.

Bees and butterflies also need areas where they can lay their eggs and have a food source readily available during all stages of life and which can also provide wintering habitat for those insects that don't migrate. The easiest way to help out in this regard is to leave undisturbed certain areas of your yard, such as along forest edges and stone walls. Dead leaves, logs, and sandy soils are all good habitat areas. You can also make or purchase bee houses, but these are not preferred over natural habitats.

Spring Ledge Farm in New London promotes pollinator habitat in more ways than selling flowers

Finally, it is important to keep your yard pesticide free. The adverse impacts on pollinators is becoming increasingly clear, and even organic options may not be a better as far as pollinators are concerned.

Even though honey bees declined 40% over the past year, and monarch numbers have declined by about 90% over the past 20 years, I am hopeful that with the increased attention being paid to these declining numbers by policy-makers and the media, that we will be able to reverse this trend. If you are interested in taking steps to protect pollinators consider signing the "Pollinator Protection Pledge" from the Xerces Society and make your yard a pollinator friendly habitat.

Rhubarb Apple Crisp

A fall classic becomes a spring favorite, by adding fresh rhubarb. A little vanilla and sugar helps pare down the tartness of the fruit for a smooth flavor.

Topping: ¾ cup flour

¾ cup brown sugar

½ cup old fashioned oats

½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ginger

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

6 tablespoons butter

½ cup chopped walnuts

Mix first 3 ingredients and spices, then cut in butter until coarse; add nuts.

 Filling: 4 tart apples peeled and chopped

2 cups rhubarb, washed and chopped

½ teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon flour

Combine apples and rhubarb, then stir in vanilla. Sprinkle sugar and flour over fruit. Transfer filling into greased 8”x 8” pan. Sprinkle filling over top and bake at 400 degrees until fruit is tender, about 45 minutes.

The Hummingbirds are Back

This male hummingbird matches the colors of this Red Twig Dogwood

I glanced ed out my window during the first week in May and thought I saw a hummingbird fly by, so I filled up the feeder to see if they had returned from their winter migration. By noontime a male and female were sitting and sipping very deliberately the sugar nectar from the feeder. Most likely replenishing their reserves. This pair will now be with us throughout the summer, visiting the flowers in the yard, and the feeder throughout the day. They have become very accustomed to people and don't mind giving us a show while we sit outside on the patio.

If you live in New England and you see a hummingbird, it is most likely a Ruby-Throated. The male is unmistakeable with its bright orange ring around its throat. The female does not have any red, but is green, with a white breast. The other native species is the Rufous of which the male has an orange throat. In the fall of 2013, a Calliope hummingbird was observed in Manchester for several weeks. This was a very unusual sighting for this part of the country.

Hummingbirds are effective pollinators as their feathers on their head are a good collector of pollen which is then transferred from plant to plant. In addition to eating nectar, hummingbirds also catch and eat insects while in flight. During the day, they are almost constantly moving with a heart rate that can exceed 1200 beats per minute. Because of this constant movement and burning of calories, they need to consume almost their entire body weight each day in food. At night, they enter a hibernation like state called torpor1. Along the East Coast hummingbirds will migrate as far south as panama and may reside in Central America or Mexico. Amazingly these birds can survive five to seven years in the wild.

There have been recent concerns that with the warming seasonal temperatures and the changes in plant bloom times that hummingbirds can be adversely effected. Since 90% of their diet is nectar, the types and availability of flowers throughout the season is critical. In addition to planting a variety of plants attractive to hummingbirds (honeysuckle, bee balm, jewel weed, columbine, hyssop), the Audubon Society is creating a database to track their location and activity. The program began in 2013 and is seeking volunteers to regularly report sightings. For further information, go to http://www.hummingbirdsathome.org/.


There isn't much in nature that is as amazing as these tiniest of birds and with minimal effort, we can help ensure that they will adapt and continue to thrive in spite of a changing climate. 

1Texas A&M University. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-62_pollinators-hummingbirds.htm

Permaculture is alive and growing in New Hampshire

Permaculture has taken hold in New Hampshire, which was evidenced by the 120 people who attending the showing of "Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective" in Franklin Thursday evening. The event was sponsored through Meetup's Permaculture Group. If you haven't joined Meetup you should. Simply log in and select your location and areas of interest. You will then be notified when events are planned that match your selections. It's a great way to find out what's going on in your community and to learn from other like-minded folks.

Todd Workman, one of the sponsors of the event, is leading an effort to revitalize the City of Franklin, using a permaculture approach. It's an ambitious project, within a city that has struggled economically, but if his idea takes off, Franklin could become a central New Hampshire destination worthy of attention from towns and cities across the country that have seen better days.

As an example of what's possible, the venue for the movie showing, Toad Hall has been repurposed as a gathering place for people to get together and discuss the possibilities for transforming the city into a place where people want to work, live and visit by taking advantage of the resources that already exist there, such as the Winnipesaukee River, Odell Park and a three mile multi-use trail that parallels the river. Walking into the building you know you have entered a unique space, as you move amongst the large metal art pieces in the shapes of insects, sea creatures and objects from outer space.

There was definitely a positive vibe in the room as people socialized before the showing of Inhabit.

The movie itself (see trailer on the main page of this blog) shows what is possible in agriculture and living when the goal is to improve the natural functions of the earth through practices that nourish each other, instead of just extracting what we need. Permaculture, uses the basic principles of nature to develop systems which will continue to thrive for decades, or even centuries. An example in agriculture is to grow a diverse variety of perennial plants which provide nutrients to the soil and each other so that external inputs of fertilizers and pesticides are not necessary.  It was exciting to see how individuals and organizations are incorporating these principles into their lives, from organic farming practices to composting toilets, to green edible roofs. And, it was also exciting to see such a large group of young people in New Hampshire coming to embrace these principles as well.

Insects Hibernate Too

Now that the evenings are remaining above freezing, insects are waking up after a long winter's rest. Most of us don't give much thought to what happens to bugs in the winter, we just enjoy the fact that with that first hard frost, we can be outside day or night without having to apply insect repellant.

Now that the evenings are staying above freezing, moths have returned to the porch light over the door. And, when I was hiking this past weekend, I was treated by a Compton Tortoise Shell butterfly in my path. It got me thinking about where it had been all winter.

We are all aware of the great migrations of Monarchs, but they aren't the only butterflies that migrate to warmer climates in the fall. Others include the Painted Lady and the Buckeye. But what about other insects, how do they survive the winter? Some insect life cycles are timed such that eggs are laid in the fall and then when the weather warms the following year they hatch to begin the cycle anew. Some will try and find warmer shelter, such as your house (e.g. certain flies and ladybugs). Others will dig deep underground (e.g. beetles and grubs.) In order to survive the winter, many insects are able to enter a state of hibernation with the help of built in survival tools. Many butterflies and moths will overwinter in various stages, either as eggs, larvae or in a chrysalis. And a few species are able to hibernate as adults. Among these are the Mourning Cloak and the Tortoise Shell (pictured above) which will find a spot under the bark of a tree or fallen log.  They can survive the freezing temperatures by creating a natural antifreeze, called glycerol.  These adult hibernators will be the first butterflies to emerge in early spring where they will be looking for a mate. Seeing one this early in the year is a pleasure.