I think I got this idea from a list post of a couple years ago. Are some
pear flowers so large that small-sized pollinators can land on a petal,
crawl to the center to collect nectar, and never touch pollen? Can a pear
tree be full of bloom-season insect activity but, because of the above, not
get pollinated?
My favorite pear tree which in the past seemed to be self-fruitful, regular
generous crops, has in recent years not been so bountiful. It is always
more or less full of flowers (and tiny flying insects!) at bloom season, but
only yields a few fruits. This spring pollen was available from other
cultivars, but altho there was good fruit-set on these others, still very
few on this tree.
I wish I had thought to examine and compare all these cultivars' flowers.
And, I have to wait another year to try some hand pollinations. The only
other obvious variable is, in those past bountiful years there were more
honey bee hives in the neighborhood.
I don't recall seeing bumble bees working this tree. I hate to think I
wouldn't notice them.
Ideas, please, for what I should plan to try next year. Thanks!