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

[Bonnie Harper-Lore]

And willows grow in wet soils along streams, lakes and in shrub carr plant communities.
Planting them elsewhere often leads to failure and possible ecological consequences.
Bonnie

On Sep 17, 2014, at 3:40 PM, Peter Bernhardt <bernhap2 at slu.edu> wrote:

> 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/
> 
> Mary K. Byrne
> 
> Plant Ecologist
> 
> Pollinator Partnership
> 
> 423 Washington Street, 5th Floor
> 
> San Francisco, CA 94111
> 
> e:  mb at pollinator.org
> 
> w: www.pollinator.org
> 
> p: 415.362.1137
> 
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