My friend had an art piece for a Day of the Dead exhibit at a local folk art gallery in Pasadena. Most of the entries were about lost loved ones or people the artist admired who are no longer with us. My friend’s exhibit was about the dying off of the bees, and how entire colonies are just plain disappearing - where the heck do they go? It was quite an eye opener. Hats off to you, Linda!!

I am very concerned about the bees and am happy to see a plethora of them around my English lavendar that is blooming like crazy now. It’s very close to my orange tree which is also attracting many bees to it’s blossoms so I hope this is a good sign.

I know who’s next. Salmon. The Pacific Fishery Management Council voted to cancel all commercial salmon fishing this year from the California coast to north-central Oregon. New York Times article 4/11/08 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/us/11salmon.html?ex=1365652800&en=d707…

Hey, Joni! I saw you on Charlie Rose! Liz Smith says she sends you linksfrom the NYTimes every day. I tried to link my posting to a NYTimes article [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/us/11salmon.html?ex=1365652800&en=d707f86b802e05d7&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink] which doesn’t look very good in a posting, but is useful when people are wondering what’s going to disappear after the bees are gont. I know that putting links in comments is technically difficult, and I know that the NYTimes allows it in comments on their blogs. So does WordPress and Movable Type. But I’m only 61. Why should I expect good technology?

In regard to the bats falling ill, those little guys eat many times their weight in insects. I truly hate to think of life without them. Our crops would be destroyed and who wants to be overtaken by insects. We have a few bat boxes on our property and I’m anxiously waiting their coming out for the spring/summer nights. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have had one of the coldest, snowiest LONG winters and I am hoping all the little beneficial creatures have survived.

why do you remove certain people’s comments before others have a chance to read or reply to them

newspapers as we knew them—on the way out— the glory of words succumbs to blogging and finally interred into texting—bye bye smug world of journalism—why don’t you attempt to save yourself by re-inventing the NEWS-PAPER—i.e. paper with news written upon it…cuz blogging and texting just ain’t the same! read on! ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO…VENT! Hey, maybe the following recommendations do not assure “good journalism” nor, in other circles, responsible broadcasting; still, as media consumers and occasional voluntary or involuntary contributors, let’s give this process the old college try and turn the tables. Note to all paid peddlers of newsworthy information: 1. Keep it simple, but NOT dumbed down. 2. Concise may be nice, yet withholding sufficient copy appears sinister, not to mention manipulative. 3. Character assassinations qualify as abhorrent; however, since the dawn of smoke signals, gossip makes the world go ‘round—and sells really well. 4. Reserving the right to edit connotes, at the very least, the existence of a doctoral degree in literature for starters. 5. Fill in the blanks or appropriate boxed-in-areas with YOUR personal “stats” and qualifications. 6. Compose an original, one-of-a-kind, non-repetitive, uplifting, honest, unbiased, socially-responsible, flawlessly grammatical message within the limited space provided. 7. Click SUBMIT. 8. Be advised, if we deem your contributions as worthy of our time? Don’t call us; we’ll call you. Sincerely yours, The Paying Public

I agree it’s scary! It is spring in Bowie and I have been anxiously looking for the return of the bees. I certainly hope that there is urgent investigation going on in order to find a solution. What will we do without the bees?

We still have Mason Bees in the Northwest. They’re solitary bees and aren’t hit by some of the bee mites and other problems that colony bees have. Unfortunately, it take a while to build up a population if you’re a farmer with large fields, and they can’t be (bee?) easily moved to different fields. I like the fact that since they don’t have honey or a hive to defend, they rarely ever sting. They do, however, buzz loudly if you’re messing with a flower they’re in, “Hey! I’m workin’ here!” or if you rake an area where their nest-hole is located, “Buzz! Leave me alone!” But they’re all buzz and no bite.

We are not powerless. There are steps we can take to help and support bees: if you have a garden add plants and trees that bees like, use local/native plants, let some of your veggies bolt and go to seed, eliminate chemical pesticides altogether; donate $ to a CCD research center like the Penn State or North Carolina State entomology depts. (donations are tax deductible); support your local beekeepers by seeking out and eating local bee honey (as a bonus there are definite health benefits to eating local honey).

You want bees? We have bees here in my end of Texas! Bees, potato bugs, HUGE beetles, some of which I have never seen before, and millions of ants! Now if someone could do something about the mosquito population! I adore bees, especially the big ol’ bumble-bees. I used to have a huge garden with lavender and thyme that bloomed every year. They loved Rose of Sharon too as do the Humming Birds. I used to weed in my garden in the early morning while the bees were feeding on the thyme blossoms and was never stung. I imagine that lots of things will disappear with the advent of newer environmental poisons.