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Re: pollinators?

At 09:59 AM 8/13/98 -0700, you wrote:
>After reading Margaret L.post a question came to me for the list..
>
>Aware of disease in bee populations so dont know if that accounts for their
>absence/reduction or not.
>It has been very hot here for a good while and wondered if that too would
>account for the drop in numbers.
>They are not totally missing just fewer in number,and seem to prefer
everything
>but the squash/melon blossoms..

Connie, I think a lot depends upon who's keeping bees in your vicinity.  I
have abundant bees, hover flies, beneficial wasps, etc., but people across
town from me complain they have no bees.  You need to grow umbelliferae
such as fennel, dill, queen anne's lace, etc., to attract them.  Also, one
of the best attractants is anise hyssop, which unfortunately also seems to
feed white cabbage moths.
>
>Wasps (paper?)I have aplenty!Not yellow jackets but demure wasps that I
>encourage as we get along just fine.
>Are these the wasps you mention Margaret ,as the hornworm terminators?

Yes.  The influx in the valley last year was attributed to the foothills
fire the year before that.  We let them go so long as they aren't in their
way, but when they built a nest at the juncture of the sliding glass doors
and one came down and thumped me on the head (I think it meant to sting,
but my hair is quite thick), we destroyed that nest.  Even this year we
have wasps cruising the aisles between tomatoes.  
>
>If it doesnt pick up soon I will have to 'do it myself'(pollinate)this is one
>thing I'd really rather leave to the professionals :-)
>Also the beans are sulking in this heat and what few they set are
>uncharacteristically curled/curved.

My beans have done poorly this summer, too.  I hope my next crop matures
before hard frost.  Margaret
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