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Hi Brian:
Never realized how important a regular lawn
maintenance schedule could really effect everything.
This really explains a lot and why things haven't
been more of what they should with letting a
new lawn become established and allowing the
dandelions to run rampant while the sections
each season have become seeded and established and
the local weed seed migrating into the
newer areas.
Dandelions now, at least on my spread are now on
the extinct specie list as of today....
Dandy observation Brian!
Best of growing,
Gianni
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 1:22
PM
Subject: RE: [nafex] Pollen Grains
I
made an interesting observation about this the other day... With my
strawberries coming on, I noticed no bee activity on the flowers and was
concerned I would have a crop this year. As I walked toward my house, I
notice a honeybee taking nectar from a dandelion in my lawn. Flashing an
idea, I carefully picked the dandelion flower and placed it amongst the
strawberry flowers thinking she would find a new source of food and fly back
to tell her other sisters.
The
bee eventually walked off the dandelion, sniffed around the strawberry flower,
then walked back to the dandelion and began to forage. When it was
finally finished, it flew up, circled around and relanded back on the
dandelion flower again. This told me two things: the "flavor" of
the dandelion nectar was more appealing than the strawberry, and two, it
was attracted to the yellow color of the dandelion. This is why
researcher, ag agents, etc.. tell you to keep your orchard floor free of
dandelions during bloom periods. They are more attracted to
them then the fruit trees, which will ultimately effect your fruit
set.
Brian
Sheridan, IN
Gianni:
Pollen grains
vary somewhat in size, and, of course, in color, but
in general are
microscopic in size and thus not visible to the naked
eye. When
magnified, many pollen grains look like little spiny sea
urchins, which
is what irritates many people's allergies. When
concentrated
together, as on the pollen baskets of a bee, they are
highly visible and
brightly colored.
No, self-fertile/self-pollinating
has nothing to do with it, and
there are no oils or other invisible
substances involved, insofar as I
know.
Yes, I
believe manual pollination definately helps, especially in
the absence of
pollinating insects.
Bees are attracted by both
color and odor, which is why most flowers
have both.
Rgds, Don
Yellman, Great Falls, VA
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