Best approach to conserving the bees: flowering trees

It is impossible to find anything that is more effective than trees when it comes to preserving bees or virtually any other type of terrestrial life. Flowering trees, in particular, provide us with a great deal of what we require.

Sky gardens: cultivating the space above

When we think about gardening for pollinators, we frequently concentrate on agricultural plants or garden flowers that bloom at eye level or below. There are a wide variety of them, ranging from teeny-tiny forget-me-nots to clover patches to thorny jungles of raspberries.

We seldom give trees any thought when it comes to designing our pollinator gardens, for whatever reason. Trees may give us the impression that they grow slowly, that they leave behind a mess on the lawn, or that they provide shadow in areas where we do not want it. On the other hand, it's possible that we exaggerate the risk posed by a tree that is located in close proximity to the home.

To be more specific, if there is one thing that our world requires more of, it is trees. And fortunately for those of us who raise bees, honey bees thrive on trees that have flowers,as well as we do.

The gardening of square feet

It was just a few years ago that the concept of "square-foot gardening" became quite popular, particularly in metropolitan settings. The objective was to grow a wide variety of plants within square-foot areas that were neatly separated, more often than not on raised beds. When compared to planting in rows, this method is considered to be more effective and less wasteful of water and soil additives, according to those who are passionate about gardening.

However, if you want to grow honey bees, it is counterintuitive to have so much diversity so close together in such a short space. When they are out foraging, honey bees will, at the very least, prefer to collect from a single species for the duration of their journey. In addition, a full day of excursions is considerably more enjoyable. Having a larger plot is preferable when it comes to feeding honey bees.

The square-foot planting method with a modern twist

Checkerboard gardening is something that I have never been interested in, yet whenever I plant a tree, I think of it. Following the removal of a little area of dirt that is not much larger than a square foot, I dig a hole in the middle of the area and plant my tiny seedling. During the course of a year or two, I tend to it by removing weeds and supplying water until it appears to be content.

Following that, I tend to forget about it, sometimes for several years. One day, I happened to be walking by when I suddenly became aware that my twig is as tall as a house, or at the very least, taller than a home. I wish that my financial account had the same level of vitality.

I have always been someone who plants trees. Since the beginning of spring, I have been purchasing trees from my conservation district, typically in bundles of ten or twenty-five trees. Because of those trees, even on the hottest days of summer, my house is quite cool, and I don't even need to turn on the air conditioner. Additionally, they are the cause of my hives' perpetual shadow, which the bees don't seem to mind at all, and the reason why the paint can last for such a long time is because it is immune to ultraviolet radiation.

There are several types of maple trees, each of which produces a tasty honey, sometimes in great quantities, despite the fact that their blossoms are little and green in appearance.

An existence that is intertwined with the trees

During the summer of the previous year, I was sitting on the grass and thinking about the largest cottonwood trees I had ever seen sitting beneath an azure sky in the Midwest. The trees had the type of roots that cause sidewalks to tilt and roads to break, and they had the kind of rough-barked, imposing appearance that was reminiscent of sycamores that had reached their full maturity. As a result of their imposing appearance and their "look at me" attitude, a flood of memories of trees was released.

For as long as I can remember, trees have been a constant source of joy and comfort. When I think about my life, I envision it as a string of beads, and each bead represents a different tree. My admiration for each and every one of them has merely led me to go on to the next one.

Trees are essential to a healthy life.

What could possibly be more enchanted than a perfumed manila rope that is dangling from a shaded oak tree and filled with the sounds of chirping jays and squawking squirrels? Despite the fact that it was coarse, shaggy, and smelled like decaying grass, the rope that I used in third grade wound up in a big knot that prevented me from falling to the ground. Despite the fact that my hands were calloused and my fingers were ragged, I spent my leisurely summers swinging in perfect circles, believing that I would never have to grow up.

In addition to supplying us with wood, fruit, and heaps of musty leaves, trees in our neighbourhoods also clean the air, lessen the amount of noise that is caused by roads, provide us privacy, minimise the amount of ultraviolet radiation that we are exposed to, and keep us cooler. The squawking of birds, the chatting of chipmunks, and the clamour of buzzing insects are all noises that we remember for the rest of our lives. Trees are so alluring that they bring us outside and introduce us to the fauna and sounds that we will never forget.

For example, picnickers prefer to sit at a table beneath a tree, despite the fact that bird droppings, seeds, pollen, and leaves may fall there. Playgrounds that provide shade are more popular than those that are exposed to sunlight. The presence of trees is reassuring, much like a well-worn blanket of security. Nobody is more alluring to humankind than a tree.

Research after research demonstrates that being in green places is beneficial to one's mental health and happiness. Green spaces alleviate both anxiety and sadness, while also reducing anger. According to a number of studies, places with shade trees had a lower incidence of crime and violence in the inner city, and children were more inclined to play outside in these regions.

Trees provide secluded areas for reflection. Even when there are a lot of people around, trees are able to assist us in gathering our thoughts and organising our concerns. Those who are looking for a spot to read, converse with friends, or simply observe the world around them seek out trees. Animals, just as fond of trees as we are, ensure that tree enthusiasts are always in good company, surrounded by companions of different sizes and personalities.

It is believed by researchers that magnolias developed before bees, with the result that they do not possess nectaries in the conventional sense. In spite of this, honey bees and other pollinators are pleased with the flowers and the abundant pollen.

Trees can reduce the energy bill.

At one point in time, we were out on a walk with members of our family in the Anza-Borrego desert, which is located east of San Diego. We happened upon a stand of mortero palms. It was similar to entering a walk-in freezer as I entered the stand; it was a physically shocking experience. However, rather than being dry, the air among the trees was dense and humid, and it smelled like hay bales that had been kept over time. Despite the blistering heat of the desert, those incredible trees grew straight and tall among the piles of boulders. However, they wore layers of dead fronds, like lacy petticoats, that shaded the ground under them.

Shaded trees help buildings avoid the enormous energy burdens caused by air conditioning. I may use my own house as an example. For the previous thirty years, an uncountable number of guests have shown their admiration. "Oh my goodness, this place is so cool!" Also, "You absolutely need to have heavy-duty air conditioning."

However, we do not have air conditioning and have never had it. Even if the temperatures during the day are higher, I continue to wear a hoodie while I work during the whole summer. As our neighbours in the surrounding area began to chop down their trees one by one, they were all taken aback when they realised they could no longer withstand the summer heat without the assistance of air conditioning. Leaving trees in situ may reduce the temperature of a home by around ten to fifteen degrees.

Additionally, if the trees are deciduous, you will enjoy the benefits of cool shade during the summer months and warm sunshine during the winter months. It does not matter how much money you invest in the system; you will never be able to develop a better system.

It is possible for trees to provide a scene with vivid colours and aromas that are unforgettable. During the autumn season, the sound of leaves crunching underfoot serves as a timely reminder of the winter season that is to come.

Carbon dioxide is essential for tree growth.

I find it surprising that, given our environmental concerns, we persist in clearing land and cutting down trees for no other reason than to do so. The time has come for us to treat trees with the reverence they merit.

Trees, like other plants, absorb water and carbon dioxide (CO2) as the day progresses. Plants use chlorophyll to convert light energy into glucose and oxygen, a process known as photosynthesis. Plants store carbon-containing glucose, while oxygen enriches the air.

Plants, like mammals, need oxygen and release carbon dioxide continuously through respiration. During the day, when photosynthesis takes place, plants release most of the oxygen into the air after using a portion for respiration. But when it's dark, photosynthesis ceases, so plants have to take oxygen from the air and release carbon dioxide. In spite of this switch, plants actually need less carbon dioxide at night than they release. Thus, trees serve as carbon sinks, or carbon storage vaults.

Trees retain the majority of carbon in their wood. When burned for firewood, the tree releases carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, becoming a source of carbon dioxide.

The distinctive pea-shaped blooms of redbuds are a brilliant shade of pink. For an eye-catching pop of colour, some people crumble the blooms over salads.

Trees' carbon cycles are rather brief.

The carbon cycle takes over sixty years for many trees, such as Douglas fir. The tree lives for around 60 years and stores carbon before we chop it down. We may keep the carbon in the wood by using it to construct a home. Burning the wood releases the carbon dioxide back into the air.

In geologic time, this collecting and releasing cycle is rather brief. Atmospheric CO2 levels were relatively steady before humans started burning fossil fuels because the gas cycled regularly between plants and the atmosphere. In contrast, the outcome of burning fossil fuels is drastically different due to the fact that it requires millions of years to recover the CO2 from the earth and transform it into coal or oil. Our atmospheric CO2 levels are so rapidly increasing.

More carbon dioxide is exhaled by trees during respiration when temperatures are higher, according to recent studies. Trees are great at soaking up carbon dioxide, even when the weather becomes warmer. We should exercise caution when chopping down mature trees that will take a long time to rebuild since, according to other studies, they store more carbon than younger trees.

The presence of trees in an area helps to decrease runoff and clean the water.

Trees are useful for a lot more than just sequestering carbon. A tree's root system may draw water from the earth by cutting holes in the dirt. The amount of precipitation that drains into waterways like rivers, lakes, and ponds is significantly higher in cleared regions than in forested ones. Runoff picks up particles, chemicals, and contaminants along its path, which contaminates our water and kills off animals. Sampling has shown, unsurprisingly, that tree-protected water sources are healthier and cleaner.

Uncontrolled runoff can also cause flooding. Regions that have recently been logged, devastated by wildfires, or stripped of vegetation are the first to experience flooding during heavy rain. Trees need a lot of water, and their extensive root systems—which may range in size from microscopic to gigantic—also stabilise the soil and channel water into deeper layers of the earth.

Trees have positive effects on our emotional and physical well-being. They get us outside and show us the world outside our phones.

Animals and plants both benefit from trees.

I made peace with the fact that I will age despite my best efforts by creating a "thinking tree." On the edge of a muddy pond rested my sugar maple. A thick, smooth barber pole had been fashioned from a secondary trunk that had been spiralled into a shape some years before. Ducks, snapping turtles, bullfrogs, and bright fish that sprang for bugs lived in the semi-stagnant pond beneath the sun-stricken limbs.

In order for salmon eggs to hatch, trees must be present in streams where the water is cold. Cold water is essential for the survival of the eggs because it contains more oxygen than warm water. The eggs will just die if the water is too hot. Furthermore, snags formed by tree roots both stabilise the stream banks and provide fish with a place to hide. Insects feed on sticks, leaves, catkins, and seeds that fall from trees into bodies of water. And the best part is that the fish end up eating the bugs. How ingenious.

Curiously, studies have shown that when salmon die after spawning, their remains wash ashore and feed the trees that line the banks of streams. Some of the oldest and tallest trees located beside salmon streams carry fish biomarkers in their crowns, according to biologists. Thanks to these surprising findings, researchers now know where salmon spawned in the past and can target their restoration efforts more effectively.

Using trees as windbreaks

The topsoil is vulnerable to erosion in the absence of trees. We have been utilising trees as windbreaks to decrease topsoil erosion for ages. The wind slows down, and the dirt particles fall to the ground as it reaches a row of trees. Dirt may damage farms, pollute the air, and create deserts if wind currents are not controlled. This can happen hundreds of miles from where the dirt was originally.

The pollen from willows is very nutritious, and they bloom early. Bees, as well as other pollinators like beetles and flower flies, as well as solitary wasps, love the flowers.

Trees that bloom to attract bees

It is easy to overlook trees while considering pollinator gardens. Still, on that same square foot of land, you may grow as many flowers as a field. In addition to providing food for animals, nuts, and fruit, many trees also produce delicious honey.

Almost any type of fruit tree may be used as a honeybee-blooming tree. Fruits that bees love include cherries, plums, peaches, crab apples, and apples. To maximise the benefit to pollinators, it is vital to learn which locally cultivated types produce the most blooms.

A peculiar characteristic of a lot of tree honey is the high fructose level it contains. This particular ingredient gives it far greater resistance to crystallisation compared to the majority of forb-produced honey.

There are many varieties of floral trees to plant if you aren't interested in fruit trees. You can select sourwood, basswood, serviceberry, redbud, willows, maples, or lack locust from your local tree inventory. Discovering a tree that complements your way of life is a breeze.

Hawthorns are great for beehives and draw in a wide variety of animals.

Trees that attract bees and bloom in abundance

You may find several of the most beneficial trees for bees just where you are. In the midst of our hectic lives, it's easy to miss the plethora of pollinators that visit flowering plants. Several of the most beneficial trees to bees are detailed here:

Avocado trees (Persea americana) thrive in tropical and subtropical regions with their honey characterized by a strong scent and a taste similar to black molasses.

Basswood or linden trees (Tilia americana) introduce creamy white flowers in late spring, producing "woodsy" honey with a hint of bitterness.

Black locust trees (Robinia pseudoacacia) present clusters of fragrant white flowers in late spring, offering a light, vanilla-flavored honey.

Black tupelo trees (Nyssa sylvatica) showcase tiny, unassuming greenish blossoms, yielding honey with flavors of cinnamon and citrus.

Cascara trees (Rhamnus purshiana), the modest Northwest gems, produce subtle green blossoms and honey with a deep, smokey flavor.

Citrus trees, specifically Citrus × sinensis and Citrus limon, are known for their orange blossom honey, highly valued for its unique flavor.

Crape myrtle trees (Lagerstroemia), common in the southeastern United States, attract honey bees in late summer with their colorful blooms.

Fruit trees, including peaches, pears, crabapples, cherries, and apples, offer pollen that benefits bees while providing us with fruit.

Hawthorn trees (Crataegus) are celebrated as one of the best bee trees, attracting a wide variety of species.

Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) bloom with vibrant pink blossoms in early spring, attracting diverse bee species along with moths and butterflies.

Serviceberry trees (Amelanchier) fruit in early spring, providing berries for birds and jam, with nectar-rich flowers loved by bees.

Sourwood trees (Oxydendrum arboreum) display striking orange, red, and plum leaves in autumn, with spring blossoms that attract bees to their sweet, spicy honey.

Southern magnolia trees (Magnolia grandiflora), despite being considered unruly, attract pollinators with their large, fragrant blossoms.

Sweetgum trees (Liquidambar) produce showy red and yellow leaves in autumn and tiny blooms that attract bees in the spring.

Tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera), known for their rapid growth, have many tulip-shaped blooms that produce pollen and nectar, leading to dark, robust honey.

Willows (Salix) attract pollinators such as honey bees with their early blooming flowers.

There are fruiting and non-fruiting varieties of fruit trees. Peaches, pears, crabapples, cherries, and apples are all part of this group. Pollen is a boon to bees, and we get to enjoy the bounty they provide.

A new beginning every spring, even from an old tree.

A beekeeper's impact can be significant.

The return of trees has been long overdue, but it is now happening. There are now hundreds of groups, both big and small, all over the world, who are working to plant trees in an effort to save our planet. The pace of deforestation is increasing, but individuals are taking action and getting the message out.

The significance of maintaining a natural habitat for all forms of life is something we beekeepers are well aware of. We are aware that a carefully selected tree may serve as a home for several species of wildlife, yield litres of high-quality honey, and offer bees as much food as a meadow. Every beekeeper can do their part to protect the environment by planting a few trees.

The role of beekeepers is distinct. To ensure the well-being of our bees, it is simple to provide them with vertical fodder that serves as both food and shelter. Simultaneously, we can maintain clean water, lessen runoff and erosion, and improve our neighbourhoods. We may increase our property values, chill our neighbourhoods, provide joy to ourselves and others, and remove countless pounds of carbon dioxide from the air just by planting a few more trees.

Also, our trees provide us with plenty of fruit. Along with honey, fruit, nuts, and wood, there are enduring memories. In comparison, what else could you ask for?