apis et ablata est

i have seen pollinators this spring...however they have mostly been on small berry blooms around the yard...

there is a wealth of other, larger flowers around the yard and the temperature has consistently been above fifty-five degrees (fahrenheit)...however i have sen exactly one honeybee this year...this is disturbing in and of itself...

however there is even more troublesome sign...the hawthorn tree in the front yard has begun to bloom and it is signaling this by emitting a very strong fragrance...it is the second week of june and last year this tree was crawling with honey bees ( as it was the year before )...this year what i am seeing is...

branches of blooms and blooms to be devoid of anything but...

you guessed it, small solitary bees...i can hope this turns around in the next few days ( weeks will be too late ) the small pollinators will do their best to cover the tree ( and it will provide ample resources for them )...i have to wonder how this will impact the number of "berries" and how that will impact the birds that consume them next winter...

if it is a difficult winter and the robins come out of the wood to compete with the jays for the berries they may be disappointed...and there may not be any shriveled berried from this season left over next june.