Awesome talk! So inspiring. I'm starting honeybees for the first time this year. I've been planting fruit trees/ trees and plants for bees for years, and have so many huge trees like Basswood, Willow, Maples, etc. One question: Can Black Gum trees survive WI ( zone 5b)? I bought one and it never even grew a leaf. I've been told they can't live here, even though many tree companies that sell them say otherwise. My white dogwood didn't even start off either. Told the same about those. Already invested in another dogwood, but I don't want to keep wasting $ on trees that can't grow here. Thanks:)
What a great video. I'm going to make friends with the City Park Board members who are appointed by the Mayor. With some good education, maybe they will tell the Parks Department to plant a diverse tree population as trees die - that are all pollinator friendly. Good advice to NEVER say they are BEE friendly. POLLINATOR FRIENDLY is our key phrase!
Hi Mike, I live and keep bees in the UK and was very impressed with your talk, we seem to be more focused on flowers and shrubs for bees here, you have reminded me how important trees are. Willows are very well worked here in early spring and Linden later but we don't take advantage of many other species to our shame.Thank you for a very informative and entertaining talk, when I see a video that is nearly an hour long it can sometimes put you off watching it but you kept my attention all through because you are obviously passionate about bees and trees. Thanks again, Phil.
Willow trees do not cast complete shade on the land under it like an oak does. Sunlight does make it directly under the branches which means you can have both sources of pollen and nectar producing flora. Lavender and many other flowering perennial self seeding varieties can be planted on the same land as a willow tree or trees bringing the total one acre potential to as high as 18,000 per acre! You CAN have land that is directed at honey and strong brood production just by using our brains. You can even stagger willow trees along with fruit trees to help not just bees but people as well. by providing for bees you provide for people as a direct means of food production.
Every once in a while I find a video I can actually listen too from start to finish. I like the SHORT version. Facts. Observations. Information. Not the long version of a one hour bla bla bla build up to get to the point. I see a suppressed sense of humor too, I like that. :) Get em Larry.
As a beekeeper of over 20 years, great presentation. Here in Oregon the cool nights restrict massive honey flows that happen in Midwest states. The Big Leaf Maple of the NW is very prolific honey tree if weather cooperates. Alder and Cottonwood Spring buds seem to be propolis sources. Thanks for mentioning Alders ability to fix nitrogen from air and put in soil and time spent on Lindens. Counted 15 different pollinators on my Linden tree. Night time pollinators also love the Linden. Twenty years ago foresters on Federal ground finally ended the war on Alders.
Thanks for this video! A coffee break very well spent! thumbs up, particularly on the non-chemical sourcing we need more educators with this message. Adding this to my favorite videos, your logic is excellent and I enjoyed the applied math :)
So glad to have found your channel and these extremely informative talks. Thank you for upping the volume on the questions so we can hear them, and the still shots from the power point. Great editing. God bless!
Mr. Mike , maybe I miss, but I don't hear about pine trees and bees. On my property is so much sycamore is any good for bees The greatest of TREES is OXYGEN, the third World war will be for Oxygen.Idon't know I keep bees for trees or trees for bees, but I love them.Thank You, good job
Hi Mike..My name is John Osborne for 20 or so years a beekeeper in S.E.England...We have fields of dandelions in April that the honey bees barely touch,in the S.West it gives a honey crop! We have a lot of fruit trees and canola in bloom at the same time. Bees generally forage on flowers that will give the best return for their efforts. It could also be Temperature related although the smaller, second flush of dandelion flowers is not crowded with honey bees either as 'better'alternatives are available. We can have low growing, white clover in a dry late summer which is swarming with bumble bees but of no interest to honey bees. Once the ground is moistened with rain, clover becomes a magnet for honey bees; something to do with warmth and moisture and the stimulation of nectar that rises up the flowers and is then available to the shorter tongues of the bees. Thank you for a most informative video...Best wishes..John.
What a great talk! It really opened my eyes to the importance of trees for bees. Most compilations of the nectar sources ignore trees entirely (except maybe fruit trees). I am now seriously considering a basswood tree in my yard. Thanks, Mike Connor! You've made at least one convert.
Even though I live in Nevada, your information is fantastic. I am a new beekeeper. I have ordered Evodia seeds, and am excited to try them and some Freeman Maples. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
This is the FIRST person I ever hear in US talking about the miraculous linden tree. I have found finally a small Tilleul Tomentosa and I am nursing it. I am hoping that someday it will be a majestic tree and the bees will enjoy it. I am considering moving to a dangerous city so my bees can enjoy the majestic linden trees there.
Perfect sound and auditory quality!! Thanx. Material was excellent and presented in a very understandable manner. I am "hearing impaired" but I could hear every word. Please make more presentations using this quality of presentation. I wish you well, LP