[Pollinator] Why aren't we growing more willows as an abundant source of pollen for bees? (Kevin Lindegaard)

[Peter Bernhardt]

Der Kelly:

Oooh, ooh, I can answer that one!

1) A number of willows sold in nurseries are non-native species and become
pests as they grow with roots attacking sewer pipes or cesspools.  Fallen
branches grow on as vegetative clones if they fall into water and are swept
onto wet sand bars and deltas.  This includes our own naturalized, not
native, weeping willow (Salix babylonica).

2)  Many willows fail to secrete nectar in bloom.  As you move further
north in latitude insect-pollinated willow species or ecotypes are replaced
by wind-pollinated species or ecotypes so no nectar.  Some apiarists regard
willows as emergency pollen resources very early in late winter-spring when
hives become active before most plants are in bloom.

3)  Do you have enough water to support your willows?  A number of species
require saturated soils saturated throughout most of their active growth
cycle.  This means they release more water vapor through their leaves every
day increasing ambient humidity.  An oak on a stony hillside loses about
140 liters of water vapor through its leaves every day.  A puny, little
fragile willow (Salix fragilis) most release 463 liters a day.

4)  Messy and short-lived. The faster a tree grows, the faster it dies.
 Most willows are short lived (<20 years) and you must be prepared to
remove dangerous dead wood and rotting-falling trunks during your life
time.

4)  Best reason of all.  J.R.R. Tolkien showed they were creepy, spooky and
can't be trusted (see the first book of Lord of the Rings).  The best Ents
are rosewoods.

So there, Peter

On Wed, Sep 17, 2014 at 3:02 PM, Kelly Rourke <kr at pollinator.org> wrote:

>  *http://www.crops4energy.co.uk/src-willows-abundant-source-pollen-bees/*
> <http://www.crops4energy.co.uk/src-willows-abundant-source-pollen-bees/>
>
> Mary K. Byrne
>
> Plant Ecologist
>
> Pollinator Partnership
>
> 423 Washington Street, 5th Floor
>
> San Francisco, CA 94111
>
> e:  *mb at pollinator.org* <mb at pollinator.org>
>
> w: *www.pollinator.org* <http://www.pollinator.org>
>
> p: 415.362.1137
>
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