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The Interview

The buzz over disappearing bees

GERALD HANNON

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 10:05 PM EDT 21/07/08

That fruit you had with breakfast? It may soon be difficult to find, says Steve Buchmann ...Read the full article

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  1. Billy Talon from Toronto, Canada writes: 'About 30 people will attend - but he is used to soldiering on in the face of marginal public interest.'

    ***

    Interesting. I'm no scientist, but I found the article to be very interesting.

    It should be the lead for this section (based on the importance in regards to our well - being) but instead we have the 'spanked' story to lead.
  2. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: This has been a serious problem for some time; a guy who kept bees on Vancouver Island, some 15 years ago, told me about the restrictions placed on buying new hives due to the presence of bee-mites.
  3. Farm Boy from Belfast, United Kingdom writes: Bees don't want to live in Toronto? Would you?
  4. J Sparrow from Canada writes: Many of the reports/studies that I have read relating to this topic are now pointing directly to GMO and when x-sections are taken of bees that have feed / pollinated from natural sources vs. gmo sources, the bees that were sourcing from gmo showed dramatically altered insides -

    When you mess with mother nature...
  5. Cosmo Spacely from Canada writes: No problem, just outsource the work to Mexican, Indian, or Chinese bees, they will do the same work for a fraction of the price.
  6. Harvey Mushman from cambridge, Canada writes: J Sparrow from Canada writes: 'Many of the reports/studies that I have read relating to this topic are now pointing directly to GMO...'...but many more studies and peer reviewed research does not. An excerpt from a University of Maryland study...'Genetically modified crops, specifically Bt corn, have been suggested as a potential cause of CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder.) While this possibility has not been ruled out, the weight of evidence based on a multitude of studies argues strongly that the current use of Bt corn is not associated with CCD.' Environmentalists are always quick to blame everything on 'multinationals' and 'the rich nations' because it suits their anti-establishment religion. Bottom line...the cause of CCD is currently unknown. I wonder if Steve Buchmann hopes to stir up more research grant money with his 'sky is falling' prediction that fruit might disappear from the face of the earth? Hey...that method sure worked great for the AGW researchers.
  7. kevin joncas from Canada writes: It's all Harper's fault.
  8. Gogh Forit from Canada writes: Cosmo Spacely: What exactly do you mean by 'outsourcing'. Are you suggesting that we import more bees not native to North America. I know you mentioned Mexico but you also added the notion that 'they'll do the work for a fraction of the price.' In Nova Scotia it is illegal to import honeybees from any other Canadian province let alone another country or continent. You must live in a highrise in some city as it appears you have absolutely no grasp of what your idea would do with respect to the cross breeding of foreign bees with native species. This cross breeding is the result of the killer bees we have today. Fifty years ago African honeybees were imported into South America to breed with the native species there thinking that the hybrid bee would produce more honey because the African bees were larger, more productive than the more docile South American bee. What they got was an aggressive, hostile bee that produced little benefit and has caused all sorts of problems for plants, animals and humans throughout Mexico, the U.S. southern states and in the last decade the killer bees have been migrating further and further north learning to adapt to the cooler climes. Cosmo, continue living in your glass and cement world believing that all your food comes in boxes at the local supermarket. Your attempt at humour fails pathetically. Should this turn into a global crisis be prepared for food riots right in your own backyard, er condo balcony. Don't think it can't happen in Canada? Think again.
  9. John Connor from Around Town, Canada writes: Harvey, with all due respect, AGW is cr@p!
    The disappearance of the bees is real.
    It's nothing to do with money at all, this is a very real problem and this guy should be taken seriously.
    Be skeptical only if Al, or Suzuki lend their support to his endeavours.
  10. H M from Canada writes: Gogh Forit, um, I think he was being sarcastic.

    I know there are huge numbers of bee keepers around here, because we live in such good clover country.

    However, my dad kept leafcutter bees for quite some time. They are a cheaper, easier alternative to honeybees and bumblebees, because they don't sting and produce insignificant amounts of honey, so you basically hatch them and stick them in a hut in the field for a season. They are kinda stupid, though. They always nest or whatever in the largest object on the horizon, so we had round bales full of bees for years.
  11. William J Gillies from Canada writes: Where is Martha Stewart with her standard response to species decline, noting how 'cute' pollinating bees are?
  12. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: J Sparrow, Steve Buchmann is an expert on bees, and he never once mentioned transgenic crops (so-called 'GMOs'). In fact, he mentioned that pesticides were responsible for about thirty percent of the decline in colonies. Since transgenic crops are bred to reduce the need for pesticides, your theory is backwards. Nice try though.
  13. R J from Montreal, Canada writes: Fear-mungering BS as per usual - if they don't know what's happening, why conclude that it's a pending disaster??
  14. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Farm Boy from Belfast, United Kingdom:

    Although you are likely joking, you have actually raised a very good point.

    Did you happen to know that alot of the bees that are used to pollinate fields in Atlantic Canada are trucked in from the province in the Center of the Universe ?

    It's just depressing the hell out of the poor creatures to be forced to live in a have not province like Ontario after they have seen the blueberry fields of Newfoundland.

    Recently these exploited bees organized to all veer to the left in their hives during their transport back to Ontario while in New Brunswick and toppled the truck that they were in for a brief escape...

    Unfortunately, many of these minature, black and yellow freedom fighters were captured and returned from whence they came.

    Free the bees from their C of the U corporate exploiters !

    Cheers
  15. Virginia Crook from United Kingdom writes: Bees quite like living in cities believe it or not. There are many small beekeepers here in London and they are keeping hives in many curious locations. A decently large garden will support a hive but so will a rooftop. You also have the benefit of collecting some rather nice honey at the end of the season. AS a hobby it is really quite interesting.
  16. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Has anyone else heard the theory that cellphone signals are actually what are disorientating the bees and causing them to stray from their hives...

    Let's blame Rogers again.
  17. Phil King from Ottawa, Canada writes: R J from Montreal, Canada writes: Fear-mungering BS as per usual - if they don't know what's happening, why conclude that it's a pending disaster??

    =========================

    Because they're disappearing in startling numbers and are responsible for a huge amount of pollination of food plants, ie. it is a pending diaster if the trend continues?

    DUH.
  18. Hugh Jass from Canada writes: R J from Montreal, Canada writes: Fear-mungering BS as per usual - if they don't know what's happening, why conclude that it's a pending disaster??

    They know what's happening (CCD), but they don't know why it's happening.
  19. Peter Cromerovich from Erehwon, Canada writes: William J Gillies from Canada writes: 'Where is Martha Stewart with her standard response to species decline, noting how 'cute' pollinating bees are?'

    I really don't know and can only assume it is a matter of carelessness on Martha's part. I will valiantly try to stand in for her:

    'Name one species od bees that have gone extinct in the last 100 years. You can't and in fact species of bees in the Arctic have increased 50% in the last decade. Yes, as usual, two legs bad, six legs good, and right now you apparently think that all problems are caused by humans. This kind of anti-human thinking is the core of modern environmental extremism. True believers should logically lead the way and eradicate themselves. But they don't. Its always those 'other' people who are the problem. No wonder they are commonly called eco-nazis. It fits. It's people like you that give true conservationists like myself a bad name.'

    I missed taking a swipe at May, the Greens, Suzuki and Toronto but other than that how was it?
  20. Harvey Mushman from cambridge, Canada writes: John Connor...I never disuputed that it was a real problem...it obviously is. Do I think fruit is likely to disappear from earth as a result...no. Researchers all compete for government money to fund their own field of research. I had a biology prof who was a rabid anti-nuclear power fanatic. In the late 70's he predicted that the entire Great Lakes basin would be rendered unsafe for swimming in because he predicted a population explosion (from warmer water) of a parasite that would bore into your brain via your eye socket(s). I remember him complaining that government funding into his research was insufficient in order to save the world. I never heard of the issue again in 30 years. I just get rather tired of the wild predictions some of these people make in order to promote their own field of interest valid, or (in the case of AGW we agree) invalid as it may be.
  21. Peter Cromerovich from Erehwon, Canada writes: kevin joncas from Canada writes: 'It's all Harper's fault. '

    Well that's a bit of a stretch but the humour is appreciated.

    It should be noted that 'Slashing Research Stevie' doesn't hold much stock in science or scientists seeing as how he is one of those Religious Right types and I don't doubt he would welcome declines in food production and riots as a precursor to his beloved rapture.
    Bring it on, eh!
  22. stand up mimi from Vancouver, Canada writes: While Dr. Buchmann may not be blaming GMO crops for the bees' disappearance, he states quite clearly that acres of monocrops are bad for bees. So it may not be the plant species itself that is to blame, but the manner in which it is grown. Monocrops are bad for other species as well, but that doesn't seem to garner much notice. Maybe someone will take notice of the disappearing bees, however, since they are directly responsible for many of our fruit and vegetable crops. There are healthier ways to grow crops than to dedicate thousands of continuous acres to one plant species.
  23. dusty bird from Canada writes: Super interesting article. I have just been reading up on big fuzzy bumble bees because we have a colony nesting in our garden shed. My husband is worried about our snoopy beagle getting stung but I've been observing the beagle who tries at least once a day to get a bee and so far no stings. I told my husband and the beagle to leave the bumble bees alone because I have noticed a marked difference in our gardens. The flowers are twice as big and the veggies unbelievable. I'm harvesting 4 litres of strawberries every day where in previous years we'd be lucky to get half that. Also, bumper crops coming in from the gooseberry and raspberry patches. Our apples trees will need to have their branches supported because of the heavy load of apples. The tomatoes and peppers are bigger and more plentiful than I've ever seen. All other veggies, broccli, peas, spinach, lettuce, zucchini, cucumbers, etc. also doing super. I start most of my plants from seed indoors and try to save my own seed from year to year. We only have a small veggie garden, about 40 by 40 feet but I think our supply should keep us through the winter. Only the carrots are doing poorly and that's because the beagle thinks it's a good place to roll around in. I am definitely loving the bumble bees! They are fascinating creatures. My little garden certainly proves the point Dr. Buchmann makes in that smaller, diversified agriculture attracts and promotes healthy bee populations. I hope I have bees every year! We are totally chemical free as well, no fertilizers, insecticides, or herbicides of any kind on our property. Nature’s predators take care of the nasty beasties. We do have a few potato bugs, but these are easily picked off by hand in our little patch.
  24. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Harvey Mushman, don't be so quick to ridicule your old professor. Those brain-eating parisites go a long way in explaining the political views of the average Torontonian. And only an epidemic of brain-eating parasites can explain Mayor Miller's back-to-back election wins.
  25. D K from here, Canada writes: I'm a little disappointed that this article doesn't recognize the fact that CCD started just after the importation of bees from Australia. This has been in the media before and is not a total mystery. There's a more informed and up to date link here:

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070906140803.htm

    I just with the Globe and Mail would do more research on the subject. The article doesn't go far enough the explain CCD or why it occurs.
  26. Justin Payne from Richmond BC, Canada writes: R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Has anyone else heard the theory that cellphone signals are actually what are disorientating the bees and causing them to stray from their hives...

    I’ve thought that too. The link below gets you some info on the topic.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/are-mobile-phones-wiping-out-our-bees-444768.html
  27. E. Thomas from Toronto, Canada writes: R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Has anyone else heard the theory that cellphone signals are actually what are disorientating the bees and causing them to stray from their hives...

    Yes, I have heard that theory and it would certainly explain why hives are being deserted -- bees can't find their way home. Add to that the stresses of various bee diseases that are a result of the 'factory farming' and transporting of bees to service orchards around the continent, and it's not hard to see why bees are under stress and are suffering declining populations.

    Is there nothing we humans can't ruin?
  28. Joe Calgarian from Calgary, Canada writes: E. Thomas, should be pretty easy to prove or disprove that theory no? Put a colony in a lead lined building and do various tests while exposing them to various levels of signals. Oh and make sure the tests aren't conducted by 'experts' on the Telecom providers payroll.
  29. Joe Calgarian from Calgary, Canada writes: Plus cell phones have been around for how long? Ya, ya, increasing usage....however a recent study said only 60% of Canadians have a cellphone compared to 95% of Americans, and yet Canada is also only recently becoming afflicted with this problem. So I don't think cell phones are the main culprit, perhaps a contributer....
  30. Joe Calgarian from Calgary, Canada writes: Finally, do studies based on location, if all colonies regardless of location in or near major urban centers are experiencing collapse, then that would again go towards disproving cell phones as the culprit. Much less signal traffic in say Grand Prairie versus Toronto.
  31. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Canadian researchers had identified the contagious microbe that they believed was causing CCD. And as DK says, this microbe may have come from Australia. I believe the results of this research came out just last fall. Can anyone shed any more light on this?
  32. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: H M from Canada writes: Gogh Forit, um, I think he was being sarcastic.
    .............

    Dunno.....it seemed more like facetious to me.
  33. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: E. Thomas from Toronto, Canada:

    Excellent post @ 2:23 PM.

    Regardless of the cause, it is time to start seriously looking to scientists to come up with solutions (not just more studies) for this issue because like biofuel subsidies, this is going to make food increasingly scarce and more expensive for a great many in the near future...

    Cheers
  34. Commander Groovechild from Canada writes: I notice we seem to have more bees this year in Toronto. Not only that but the boring fields of green have been transformed into vibrant fields of yellow and purple. Lots of different wildflowers are starting to get into the action. If this is what we get when we lay off pesticides and herbicides, I'm all for it. Local wildflowers are fabulous compared to the garbage people habitually plant. We have to unleash the bees and let them do their thing. The honey is just a bigtime bonus.
  35. s c from Toronto, Canada writes: ..."And there's one now," he says excitedly, "a male, and I believe it's about to clutch onto that female."

    After years of keeping bees, I have yet to see a male (drone) bee "clutching" a female (worker) bee. The honeybee queen's "maiden flight" involves her leaving the hive and flying to a place where several drones will gather to mate with her. The queen would very likely avoid a backyard party, children or no children.

    Or did he mean that the clutching was that of a bee to a flower? Hmmmm. Drones don't pollinate, or do much else, in fact, except mate with the queen.

    Knowing about these creatures (and other pollinators) might be a start in understanding their value.
  36. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Commander Groovechild from Canada:

    And don't forget which Canadian city that it was who gave you the idea of laying off the pesticides and herbicides...

    Halifax, the new and improved Centre of the Universe...

    Cheers
  37. Green Canada from Canada writes: Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: J Sparrow, Steve Buchmann is an expert on bees, and he never once mentioned transgenic crops (so-called 'GMOs'). In fact, he mentioned that pesticides were responsible for about thirty percent of the decline in colonies. Since transgenic crops are bred to reduce the need for pesticides, your theory is backwards. Nice try though.
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    actually Alistair your post is similarly backwards...many gmo crops are modified to be resistent to pesticides that the same companies produce...giving way to such things as monsanto's roundup ready canola. the biotech companies would like us to believe your approach as well...nice try though.
  38. Gail C from Toronto, Canada writes: dusty bird: I enjoyed your comments so much. All those glorious flowers, fruit and vegetables... must be a wonderful sight. Now if I could try something like that here in Toronto.

    Anyway, the monarchs are loving my purple coneflowers.
  39. Prairie Boy from Canada writes: Alister Colombia and USDA found two virus carried by the Varroa mite that are present in 3 out of 4 samples. They are the Kasmir Bee virus and the Israeli acute paralysis virus.
  40. Peter Piper from Canada writes: Regardless which centre of the universe you find yourself closest to, if the bees disappear we will find most of our fruit disappearing unless you would like to get out your handy-dandy box of Q-tips and go around pollinating all those cute flowers yourself.
  41. Michael B from Canada writes: Clive Gingell from Canada writes: H M from Canada writes: Gogh Forit, um, I think he was being sarcastic.
    .............

    Dunno.....it seemed more like facetious to me.
    ----------------
    Stupid as always Clive. Being facetious = lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous.

    Being sarcastic = harsh or bitter derision or irony.

    The highly politicized topic of outsourcing is anything but frivolous.
  42. MapleLeaf Bacon from Killaloe, Canada writes: Bees are dying simply because of the increasing use of the wireless communication equipment which affects their migration, feeding and breeding patterns.

    Lose the cell phone gain a bumble bee.
  43. Bill Hopkins from London, Canada writes: Harvey Mushman from cambridge, Canada writes: J Sparrow from Canada writes: 'Many of the reports/studies that I have read relating to this topic are now pointing directly to GMO...'...but many more studies and peer reviewed research does not. An excerpt from a University of Maryland study...'Genetically modified crops, specifically Bt corn, have been suggested as a potential cause of CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder.) While this possibility has not been ruled out, the weight of evidence based on a multitude of studies argues strongly that the current use of Bt corn is not associated with CCD.'
    ..............

    I know how the anti-GMO people would dearly love to blame CCD on modified corn, but it is difficult to see how BT corn could be a factor in CCD. Bees do not feed on corn pollen. In fact, no insects "feed" on corn pollen. Corn, like virtually all grasses, is wind pollinated.
  44. Arec Bardwin from Canada writes: Cell phones have nothing to do with it.

    http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572

    There was a study that irradiated hives at random. The hives that were irradiated were far less likely to experience CCD. That, in itself, points to a pathogen of some sort. They have not ruled out pesticides yet either.
    I'd say this is a really good reason not to use pesticides.
    Dandelions are far better than no bees.

  45. Bill Hopkins from London, Canada writes: Green Canada from Canada writes: Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: J Sparrow, Steve Buchmann is an expert on bees, and he never once mentioned transgenic crops (so-called 'GMOs'). In fact, he mentioned that pesticides were responsible for about thirty percent of the decline in colonies. Since transgenic crops are bred to reduce the need for pesticides, your theory is backwards. Nice try though.
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    actually Alistair your post is similarly backwards...many gmo crops are modified to be resistent to pesticides that the same companies produce...giving way to such things as monsanto's roundup ready canola. the biotech companies would like us to believe your approach as well...nice try though.
    ...................
    Actually, Alistair is correct. Strains such as BT corn are bred produce their own insecticide and target specfically insects that graze on corn, thus reducing, if not eliminating, the amount of broad spectrum insecticide that has to be sprayed on the fields, and thus reducing the kill of beneficial insects. Green Canada is confusing insecticides with herbicide-resistant crops that tolerate herbicides. Herbicides kill plants, not insects.
  46. Imperial K from Toronto, Canada writes: Cosmo Spacely, ummm that can't be done. I don't believe ever, in the history of mass farming can people do the work of millions of bees.

    By the time they get halfway through, they have missed their opportunity and the plant won't reproduce. Also, still it would be too expensive. One has to go get the pollen AND also place it.

    Well another thing bites the dust due to pollution.
  47. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Green Canada, I knew someone would come up with the Monsanto example. And unfortunately for you, it is about to backfire. Monsanto's transgenic crops are mostly made to be resistent to RoundUp - Monsanto's flagship chemical that previously could not be used on crops (because it was initially designed to kill ALL plants). You were correct about that much. However, Roundup is one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly chemicals out there. Not only that, but using Roundup kills ALL weeds, therefore there is no reason to spray the crop twice. Before RoundUp Ready Canola for example, canola either couldn't be sprayed for broadleaf weeds at all (only grassy weeds) or it had to be sprayed with TWO separate chemicals, one for broadleaf and one for grassy weeds - both of which were harsher and more toxic than RoundUp. That's the whole selling point of RoundUp Ready canola. It allows farmers to save money by spraying LESS chemicals.
  48. Clive Gingell from Canada writes:
    Michael B says "Stupid as always Clive. Being facetious = lacking serious intent; concerned with something nonessential, amusing, or frivolous.

    Being sarcastic = harsh or bitter derision or irony.

    The highly politicized topic of outsourcing is anything but frivolous
    ............................

    facetious:
    funny, not serious, as in: His father didn't like his facetious remarks about such a serious subject.
    http://www.business-words.com/dictionary/F.html

    Or, phrased another way: "Eat your words a$$wipe."
  49. Dick Garneau from Canada writes: I don't know about the rest of Canada but in Calgary the Honey bees don't come out until its about 12 degrees C. Its been a long cool summer in the west, about a month late and temps in July still falling to 7 degrees C, in mid July it snowed in the fruit belt and the mountains were still covered in snow. Environment Canada promised us a long hot summer, I guess they were wrong again.

    .
  50. Peter Piper from Canada writes: ....did I hear someone say "Global Warming"?
  51. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Clive Gingell from Canada writes: This has been a serious problem for some time; a guy who kept bees on Vancouver Island, some 15 years ago, told me about the restrictions placed on buying new hives due to the presence of bee-mites. We live on Vanc Island also Clive and suspect that bee keeper tossed all his hives at the end of our driveway this spring. Now we can't move here without swarms of bees and hornets circling 'or head. Such a timely article (for Vanc Is by the G & M). Oh such is the C of U! PS--Bees (and hornets) love BBQed Buffalo Meat, especially if it comes from Pete's Mountain Meats at the Marina on River Rd.
  52. al goguen from Victoria, Canada writes: A very interesting article. We always take things for granted and believe that everything will continue as in the past. Unfortunately many good things are disappearing.
    I planted 18 big pots of plants on my patio with the intention of attracting hummingbirds. I was assured that all my plants would charm hummingbirds. At the moment, my plants are in full blood; I have yet to see one humminbird. Oh, they are around and want me to suffer. They prefer to play hide-and-seek in the birch trees next to my garden. But I have discovered the Mason Bees. Thanks to a friend who has about twenty homes for them and showed me pictures of them. They are simply beautiful - they appear black but are actually dark metallic green/blue in color. I had seen them before but I thought they were big flies, instead they are solitary pollinators. They like blooming fruit trees and obviously my humminbird flowers.
    I am thinking of starting a few houses for them.
  53. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: Hap: Must be a different guy. ;-) 'Mine' lived on SSI and took his bees over, (somewhere around Duncan I believe), to feed on the fireweed, which makes great honey!
  54. Inmate #18330-424 from Coleman Federal Prison, United States writes: R J from Montreal, Canada writes: Fear-mungering BS as per usual - if they don't know what's happening, why conclude that it's a pending disaster??

    ==============================

    Not knowing the reason makes it more alarming when the effect is very clear. We're running out of bees.
  55. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Is that Conrad Black commenting above ?
  56. bitter genexer from Canada writes: Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Canadian researchers had identified the contagious microbe that they believed was causing CCD. And as DK says, this microbe may have come from Australia. I believe the results of this research came out just last fall. Can anyone shed any more light on this?
    Posted 21/07/08 at 2:55 PM EDT

    There was a program on PBS called Nature that had mentioned the Australian connection. You can watch it on line. Interesting program.
  57. see see writer from Canada writes: HONEY may soon be difficult to find -- but pollinators ? Maybe not. Here in New Brunswick, even as the honeybees struggle to survive, my gardens are buzzing with miniature bumblebees. They are either an invasion of a new species in the last ten years or so, or a population explosion of a little bee which was always here but in much fewer numbers.

    If I were a bee specialist, I would be trying to cross these guys with honeybees, because they seem immune to whatever is destroying the honeybees. They are thriving.

    What is at risk in crop production? The big operations. Monoculture needs to import masses of honeybees for the pollination season. I think the small farmer can always get by with the non-domesticated pollinators, especially if he/she maintains some natural habitat, and does not use poison spray.
  58. Justin Payne from Richmond BC, Canada writes: Dick Garneau from Canada writes: I don't know about the rest of Canada but in Calgary the Honey bees don't come out until its about 12 degrees C. Its been a long cool summer in the west, about a month late and temps in July still falling to 7 degrees C, in mid July it snowed in the fruit belt and the mountains were still covered in snow. Environment Canada promised us a long hot summer, I guess they were wrong again….

    No the EC is not wrong. Here in the West (Coast) the weather has been at or above normal temps since early June. We have not had a drop of rain for at least a couple of weeks. So yes, all is hunky-dory here in the West. Guess back East, in Calgary, things are pretty crappy, sorry to hear that. Nothing worse then a cool summer, I can only imagine. BTW. I have all sorts of bees around my garden. I have seven French Lavender, which the bees love as well as the other herbs and perennials in my garden. It’s all good in the hood, here in the West.
  59. Mike L. from Canada writes: At the end of the day, I fear something low-profile and unexpected like this may be what finally gets us. Forget the big-ticket items like global warming. A sudden collapse in bees could wreak havoc on food production, and go unnoticed until it is far too late.

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