grrrrrr

[chelidon]

I really try to maintain an open, optimistic attitude about the world despite tendencies towards cynicism (born from experience, a cynic might say), but however you look at it, this just sucks.

(CNN -- Experts: Monarch butterfly population in jeopardy)

I may hatch and release butterflies this year on my land, more as a symbolic gesture than anything else. And not this year, but next, I'm seriously considering starting to raise bees, particularly if I get the apple orchard in. The decline of honey bees and other pollinators is a particularly bad sign, as so much depends on them, especially food plants like fruits and vegetables.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/faerose_/]

"seriously considering starting to raise bees"

YES me to.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

I have friends who do this -- it's getting more and more difficult and expensive to raise honey bees, because of all of the alien varieties of mites and other bugs that are spreading infesting bees these days. It's not quite as bad here up nawth, the cold seems to help keep the bugs somewhat at bay, but down near Washington D.C., one buddy of mine has to replace his queen almost every year, buy new hives or sterilize the old ones, etc. A real mess. I've been getting my honey here through a local friend (I use a lot for brewing mead), but if I put in the fruit trees I'm thinking of, I may need to have my own pollinators, so I'll have my own honey supply, too!

[eeedge.livejournal.com]

I've been seeing honey bees this year when I hadn't seen them for the past five. I've been looking for them each year, too, so it's not just a matter of lack of notice.

My new neighbor thought I was nuts when I delightedly dragged B outside to look at a whole bush full of happily gathering honey bees.

[chelidon.livejournal.com]

Way cool. That's good news, thanks!