The vast majority of the commercially managed honey bee colonies in the United States spend February and a portion of March pollinating almonds in the central valley of California. Almond pollen is very nutritious, and colonies build well on it when favorable weather conditions prevail during bloom. The weather during almond pollination season in 2020 was very favorable, and colonies made significant increases in both population and food reserves during the bloom period.
While warm and dry conditions this year led to a good nut set, it did mean that bloom progressed quickly, and once finished there were limited flowers available. By working in various almond locations from Kern county in the south to Chico near the northern end of the valley, I was able to see a lot of ground and keep an eye on what the bees were working. Aside from almonds and a few bees in the mustard, one of the only plants I saw bees on is an invasive plant called filaree that is a common occupant of orchard floors and surrounding areas where it is able to utilize irrigation water intended for almond trees.
Filaree (Erodium cicutarium), also called redstem filaree or storksbill, is a member of the Geranium family that is native to Europe and Asia. It is a low growing herb with opposite leaves composed of 3-9 feathery leaflets. Its ability to tolerate a wide variety of light, moisture, and temperature conditions has led to a widespread distribution, particularly in the western United States. The small, pink, upright facing flowers appear in clusters on the end of hair-covered stalks. It can bloom for several months, and I have seen it in the central valley in full bloom during February and March numerous years. The fruits of the plant mature into a long-beaked capsule whose shape has lead to one of the common names of storksbill (regionally also called heron’s bill).
As a bee plant, filaree becomes an attractive option once the almond flowers are gone and bee traffic shifts to the orchard floor if the ground cover has a significant amount of filaree. The plant does produce nectar but not in a quantity expected to yield a honey crop. The bees are also able to gather pollen from the flowers, which direct observation shows is bright yellow in color. Most beekeepers seek to exit almonds as soon as they are released from pollination contracts, but for the locals that stay, filaree can be an important contributor to spring forage.
Proper pollination is key to getting a bountiful harvest of Alpine Storks Bill flowers in your garden. These unique blooms with their vibrant orange petals resembling a stork’s bill not only add beauty but also rely on successful pollination for propagation. This guide will provide tips on maximizing pollination of your Alpine Storks Bill flowers to increase yields.
Why Pollination Matters for Alpine Storks Bill Flowers
Pollination occurs when pollen grains are transferred from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another, enabling fertilization. For Alpine Storks Bill and many other flowers, this pollen transfer is vital for seed and fruit production. Without adequate pollination, your yield of these flowers will be low.
Alpine Storks Bill relies primarily on insects like bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to facilitate pollination between different flowers However, declining pollinator numbers due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change can hamper natural pollination This makes supplemental hand pollination necessary to ensure your flowers are thoroughly pollinated.
Effective Hand Pollination Techniques
When insect pollination is inadequate, gardeners can employ simple manual techniques to pollinate Alpine Storks Bill flowers Here are two easy methods
Brush Pollination
This technique imitates how bees transfer pollen from flower to flower. Follow these steps:
- Use a small paintbrush or cotton swab to gently collect pollen from the anthers of a mature Alpine Storks Bill flower.
- Lightly brush the pollen onto the stigma of another flower to transfer grains.
- Repeat across multiple blooms for thorough pollination.
- Ideal time is morning when flowers are newly opened and pollen is abundant.
Shake Pollination
Gently shaking flowers facilitates pollen release for cross-pollination.
- Clasp the stem below a flower cluster and gently shake to dislodge pollen.
- Repeat shaking motion on several flower clusters to increase pollen transfer.
- Avoid vigorous shaking which can damage delicate blooms.
Tips for Pollination Success
In addition to hands-on techniques, follow these tips to boost pollination:
- Plant diverse flowers to attract more pollinators.
- Avoid pesticides that can harm pollinating insects.
- Install bee boxes or create small nesting areas for native pollinators.
- Use organic mulch sparingly allowing ground-nesting bees access.
- Water adequately during dry periods for healthy blooms.
When to Pollinate Alpine Storks Bill
Timing is important when hand pollinating Alpine Storks Bill flowers
- Begin when flowers first open fully. Anthers will be ripe with pollen.
- Pollinate early morning when pollen is most viable and stigmas are receptive.
- Pollinate every couple of days until flower clusters fade.
- Focus on unpollinated flowers to maximize fruit set.
Monitor your plants for new flower clusters and target those for pollinating.
Signs of Successful Pollination
How can you tell if your hand pollination efforts have been successful? Watch for these signs:
- Pollen grains adhering to stigma surfaces.
- Stigmas appearing glossy or sticky.
- Flower clusters remaining attached and not withering.
- Seed pods beginning to swell and develop.
Lack of pollen transfer and undeveloped seed pods likely indicates inadequate pollination.
Caring for Alpine Storks Bill After Pollination
Once plants are pollinated, continue providing proper care:
- Water 1-2 times per week if rainfall is lacking.
- Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly.
- Remove spent blooms and seed pods after ripening.
- Leave healthy foliage intact until it dies back in fall.
- Mulch around plants prior to winter.
Adequate nutrients and moisture support seed development post-pollination.
Enjoy the Benefits of Successful Pollination
With diligent hand pollination paired with insect pollinator activity, your Alpine Storks Bill flowers will reward you with:
- A prolonged bloom period into fall.
- Hundreds of viable seeds per flower head.
- Larger and more abundant blooms year after year.
- New plants generated from self-sown seeds.
Make pollination a priority and your Alpine Storks Bill flowers will thrive and enhance your landscape with vivid color. Appreciate the role you play in their reproductive success when those bright orange bill-shaped blooms open every season.
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Hand Pollinate to Increase Yields and Reduce Blossom End Rot
FAQ
Do alpine strawberries need to be pollinated?
When to divide alpine strawberries?
How many strawberries does an alpine strawberry plant produce?
Is it worth growing alpine strawberries?
Does pollinator visitation affect seed production in canola plants?
Pollinator visitation exacerbated the negative relationship between seed production and time of peak flowering, resulting in higher total seed biomass in canola plants with an earlier peak of flowering (Pollination × Peak of flowering interaction: F1,232 = 11.78, P < 0.001; Supplementary Table S3; Fig. 1a ).
What does a stork’s Bill look like?
Common Stork’s-bill is hairy plant of dry grasslands, and bare and sandy areas, both inland and around the coast. Its bright pink flowers appear in May and last through the summer until August. The resulting seed pods are shaped like a crane’s bill (hence the name) and explode when ripe, sending the seeds, with their feathery ‘parachutes’, flying.
What are examples of self pollinating plants?
Examples of self-pollinating plants are tomatoes and peppers. Cross-pollinated plants need to be pollinated from another plant or variety, Apple trees, for instance, need a second apple tree to pollinate with. That means a pollinator must carry the pollen from one tree to the next. Other plants have both male and female flowers on one plant.
Do pollinators affect canola syndromes?
The overall functional character of canola (i.e. multivariate sets of functional characteristics/traits (i.e., “syndromes”) related to flower timing, flower effort, plant size & shape, seed packaging and root biomass, MANOVA reported in Supplementary Table S1) was affected by pollinators, canola type, and variety.