Comments on: Bee Colonies Come Back!

By: Peggy

Peggy — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:48:15 +0000

Wendy – I suppose Burt’s Bees took away the submit button rather than putting up a note about being out of seeds. Maybe they haven’t had time to update? Not sure… I deleted the bullet from my post.

Here’s their response to my question about the submit button on the free wildflowers offer:

We’re thrilled everyone has been so supportive of saving the bees by ordering these seeds. We’ve run out!

In just over the past 10 days, we’ve given out over 50,000 seed packets so now there will be MILLIONS of flowers being planted across the country. That’s a lot of healthy places for bees to live and thrive.

To plant bee-friendly flowers on your own, our seed packets included a selection of the following wildflowers: Calendula, Shasta Daisy, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Plains Coreopsis, Purple Coneflower and Sweet William Catchfly.

Burt’s Bees remains committed to being ‘seriously natural’ and to you, our consumer. We will continue to provide you with safe and effective earth-friendly natural personal care products.

By: kisha

kisha — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:30:15 +0000

Robins comments reminded me that I need to stock up next week. He always has great jellies/jam and honey sticks. My daughter loves the honey sticks (i think I might have to post something about this on myblog, lol)

By: Peggy

Peggy — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:34:35 +0000

Wendy, you’re right! I was going to fill it out later, but there’s no way to submit your info to Burt’s Bees for the free wildflower seeds. I emailed them about it. Thanks for letting me know.

Linette, thanks for letting me know about pollinator week and for the link!

By: Linette

Linette — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:42:53 +0000

This week was National Pollinator week, I posted something about it earlier this week. I just added this as an additional resource link:) I think it’s such an important subject to get the word out there.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:37:51 +0000

I dont see a submit button @ Burts Bees

By: Julie F

Julie F — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:43:02 +0000

I read a few things that point to a collaboration of virus, mites, and possibly a ’syndrome’. I forgot to see if africanized honeybees were being affected.

@the comments thing, I think it was a blog fart. (yes, blog farts are real even though I made up the term)

By: Peggy

Peggy — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 22:15:42 +0000

Julie, I’m not sure what’s up with the comments. If it keeps happening, we’ll email support about it.

I’m wondering if whatever is affecting honey bees might affect other pollinators as well. It would be nice to figure it out, especially if it turns out to be pesticide use.

Robin, local honey is much better. Yum. Oh, and vacation for a month — wow! I wonder if the bees missed them.

By: Julie F

Julie F — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:44:20 +0000

That’s weird, my comments are on moderation now. Did I do something wrong or is b5 acting up again?

By: Robin

Robin — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:44:08 +0000

The bee people were at the farmer’s market this morning. Turns out they were on vacation for a month. They told me that they did lose 60% of their hives last year, but that the bees are beginning to return. They said they have no idea why they left and no idea why they are returning.

I had bought honey at the grocery store yesterday because I didn’t think I could get it this morning. I decided to buy more this morning. My kids tasted both honeys when I got home. The local honey is far better than the store bought honey. It tastes better and it’s a beautiful dark golden color. The store bought is a pale yellow.

I think I’ll end up stocking up at the end of market season for the winter.

By: Julie F

Julie F — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:43:33 +0000

http://www.bumblebee.org/economic.htm

Has information on how native bumblebees are just as important as the honeybee and can take their place in many instances.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/newton/fun/gardening/x1123491174

Like honeybees, bumblebees are very important pollinators of many plants in the wild as well as agricultural crops. In addition to several clover species, bumblebees are excellent pollinators of almond, apple, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, cucumber, melon, pear, pumpkin, raspberry, squash, strawberry, tomato and more. Recently, I observed them pollinating foxglove flowers in a perennial garden in Steuben, Maine. Read more about bumblebees at http://www.bumblebee.org. For a concise summary of honeybee colony collapse disorder, see Science News, (172:4) 7/28/07.

There are several different types of bumblebees and hopefully they will take the place of the dissapearing honeybee. As I said, I don’t want honeybees to all die off, but I am glad there are other insects out there to help.