Ornamental Cherry

[ski]

I snapped a few pictures of ornamental cherry blossoms.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 011024.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 011026.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 011018.jpg
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w45/ ... 011011.jpg

[Jacobs]

Nice photos, Ski. I guess bees really do use smell. Around the corner from my house an ornamental cherry tree and a Bradford pear tree are in bloom. The cherry tree is abuzz with activity and the Bradford is experiencing "the silence of the bees." Both look beautiful but the Bradford has that dead animal smell. Maybe flies pollinate it.

[Wally]

You're getting good with that camera. Real nice pics there.

Jacobs, do bradfords get pollinated? I didn't think they made seed.

[Jacobs]

Maybe they don't make seeds, just stink. Do the ornamental cherry trees make seeds? I don't recall seeing any fruit on them but the bees do collect pollen. Maybe they don't get pollinated, just produce pollen. Who developed these varieties, the car wash people?

[ski]

LOL this has been fun to read.

I use the pig and the acorn method of taking pictures so I usually get a couple of good ones.

I don't recall seeing any fruit on the cherry tree either.

Dr. Ambrose and retired bee inspector Bill Shepard said flies pollinate the Bradford pairs and bees don't like them, but on one of the other forums someone said their bees were working the Bradford pairs.

[Jacobs]

I've seen those posts as well. Maybe if the bees don't have anything better they hold their antennae and go for it.

[mike91553]

It seems to me like the Bradford Pear has proven itself to be the worse choice anyone could make for an ornamental tree. They are very easily broken down by storm winds, they stink, and provide no benefit to bees. Why would anyone use such a worthless tree. They are pretty right? Well and ornamental cherry is prettier so why don't more people and municipalities plant cherry trees?

Has there been any work done by beekeeping clubs to get Bradford Pears and other non pollinator friendly plants off the local cities "lets plant some of these list" ?

[Jacobs]

That would be a good project to work on along with local master gardener/tree preservation organizations--pollinator friendly plantings by local and state governments. (Maybe even some help from the car wash people!)

[Zulu]

While Bradford Pears have been abused by landscapers because they are fast growing and flower prolifically - they are miserable specimens for standing up to any Ice or windstorms,

....... they are worked by bees, and they do fruit , albeit small and insignificant.

I dont know the pollen value, but intend to try and find out more info.... I DONT have any planted in my yard





I found this quote :

"You won't get much nectar off of them, but the bees will work them some if there isn't something better available." - - Michael Bush

and as the Red Maples flower about the same time , I guess our bees migrate towards the better pollen and nectar of Red Maple