After two amazing weekends of Lavender U-Cut, we are all done for the season, but the farm is still open, 10am-3pm on Fridays and Sundays! Reservations are not required to visit from this point on until we close on Labor Day. This week at Bees N Blooms, we are highlighting our organic Red Flowering Gum trees. They are flowering for the first time! We’ve planted several dozen on the property and also have about 500 in pots for sale in our tree nursery. Back in 2016, we propagated the first seeds of the Corymbia ficifolia (Red Flowering Gum) in our garage. And now, after 4 years, some of them have finally reached the maturity to flower! These flowers are worthy of announcement because they are exceptional, blooming at a time of year when little else is naturally available for pollinators. And, the bees LOVE them!
Why Trees for Pollinators?
We don’t often think of trees when planning our pollinator gardens, but we should! Think of them as a three-dimensional source of nectar and pollen, providing much more bloom per square foot of ground space than other flowering plants. We decided to focus our production on trees that bloom in spring (Honey Locust), early summer (Linden), and late summer/fall (Red Flowering Gum and Purple Chaste Tree (Vitex). The late summer blooming trees are critical for pollinators, as there is little else for forage here in dry Northern California at that time of year.
The Beautiful
Red Flowering Gum Tree
A native of Australia, Corymbia ficifolia grows best on the western coast of the United States and is seldom successful in the interior climates. It prefers temperate coastal conditions, where it tolerates salt spray, dryness and smog. For this reason, these trees are popular in California. Some of the areas where they grow successfully in the state include, Burlingame, San Diego, San Francisco, San Leandro, Solvang, Pacific Grove, South Pasadena, and now Santa Rosa! The City of San Francisco uses these trees for street trees, creating a spectacular display of bloom and food for the pollinators. This tree can live up to 150 years, reaching heights of 18 to 45 feet. Its flowers are spectacular clusters of red or orange, blooming in late Summer through fall.
Vitex, A Bumblebee favorite
The Vitex trees (also known as Chaste Tree) are also blooming now, much to the delight of the bumblebees. These trees produce spikes of purple flowers from mid-summer to early fall. The Vitex tree attracts both butterflies and bees and grows anywhere from twelve to twenty feet tall. They are clay-tolerant, so perfect for our Sonoma County adobe soil.
Why Organic Trees?
These trees are important for the ecosystem because they are free of systemic pesticides. There are very few organic tree nurseries, which means that most trees available in nurseries are treated with systemic insecticides, specifically neonicotinoid pesticides. This makes the pollen and nectar poisonous to pollinators. Neonicotinoids have been linked to colony losses in honeybees and declines in other insect species, as well as insectivorous birds. In the last few years, evidence has accumulated demonstrating that the extensive (and typically prophylactic) use of these insecticides is disrupting crucial aspects of water and soil ecosystems, thus placing ecosystem services and biodiversity at risk.
Systemic insecticides are chemicals that are absorbed by a plant when applied to soil, leaves, and/or seeds. Once applied, these chemicals subsequently circulate through the plant’s tissues, killing the insects that feed on plant sap. But all parts of the plant, including pollen and nectar, are now toxic to insects. The initial use of neonicotinoid pesticides on food crops began in 1994. It has steadily increased over the last 25 years, such that most of the 400 million acres of agricultural land is now treated with these chemicals. For perennial plants like trees, residues of these insecticides can persist for several years, remaining toxic to pollinators long after treatment. To protect the health of pollinators, it is critical to plant pesticide-free forage for them.
Our Trees at Bees N Blooms
At the farm, we are a 100% organic operation, and our trees are no exception. We hold the vision of a world where all trees and plants are free of pesticides, thus resulting in a healthier ecosystem for plants, animals and humans to enjoy. We sell several varieties of trees that are pollinator-friendly: Red Flowering Gum, Purple Chaste Tree (Vitex), Thornless Honey Locust, Red Maple, and Silver Linden. More information about the trees is available on our website. A tree or more can provide shade and shelter for the home, and safe forage for the pollinating species hard at work. If each one of us plants a tree that is pesticide-free, we can create non-toxic habitats for bees and insects to have a chance at survival. We sell our trees to cities, counties, and parks, with a discount for bulk purchases. Please consider us for your next purchase of trees! As we always say, “Save the bees, no spray please!”
