Black Willow and other pollen thoughts

Looking back to when we moved out to the barnhouse 5 years ago, one of the things I started doing, was trying to tame the acreage around me. It was the first time I had lived in the country, instead of in town, and I missed town. Don’t get me wrong, I also loved the peace and beauty of the country, but I had left a house and yard that was 1/4 of an acre in town, for 52 acres in the country.

Every place we’ve lived, I’ve added and cultivated gardens and plants; not in a professional way, like a landscaper would do, but in a more haphazard, trial by fire way. Sometimes, just the right conditions will prevail, and I’ll end up with a lovely corner where the plants thrive and compliment each other. And it will surprise me, kind of like some of the quilts that I finish…”oh, those fabrics really look nice together…lucky day!”

On that quarter acre lot in Milford, Nebraska, in the 14 years at that house, I added lots of plants. In the first 10 years, most were divisions from mom and other gardeners. There were 2 plants on that lot, besides the big old trees, when we moved in. When we left, the entire foundation around the house, was “landscaped.” There was a small, but rich garden in the back, no chemicals ever used. There were heirloom apple trees, cherry, plum and apricot, and my giant rhubarb.

It was an emotional move and I hurt my back, falling down the steps, just before we moved, so all of the plants I brought out to the acreage, perished. And, I didn’t get to dig as many as I wanted to. By the way, the people that bought the house cut down most of my fruit trees, even my beloved gravenstein apple, and took out most of the plants. I don’t even drive by anymore. Don’t get too attached to your houses…

So, how do I get back to what I started writing about this morning? Oh, yeah….black willow.

Over the last year or so, I’ve realized I have been trying to make the ground out here produce the plants that remind me of home, or, our last home. And, it’s just different out in the country. We have less protection from the wind and storms. Our house sits on top of a hill. We are surrounded by farm land. Everything is a little more wild. And maybe I should thank my honeybees, for helping me feel a little more rooted to this place.

I’ve been mystified when I check my bees, by where they get their pollen and nectar. I know when I first started keeping bees, I looked to flower gardens. And, I was disappointed when my precious flower gardens wouldn’t grow…for the bees. Then, in the late summer, I’d see a volunteer squash vine taking over and honeybees…all over it. Practically worthless as a vegetable, because you never know what will come from a mixed up squash plant, but the bees loved it, so I left it. This spring, I’ve been a bee stalker, and have been watching what’s in bloom, and if the bees are on it. The bees are arriving at the hive with “pollen pants” so they are finding it, without my flower gardens. Amazing, huh?

I was surprised that my aronia bushes, now in full bloom, had no bees. I was disappointed to learn that aronia bushes are self pollinating, and don’t really need honeybees. I was imagining all those healthful properties in my honey.

Am I ever going to get to the black willow? Here we go. I noticed a shrubby tree, in full bloom, honeybees all over it. We had chopped down this row of these trees and pulled out the stumps. Many had died, but they had grown up along the old septic leach line, because willow roots love and search out water. I had left this one bushy tree, because we moved the leach line and because it the bushy tree wanted to live, out here, no help from me.

That’s kind of my test now for plants out here. Wait, it’s alive…it’s thriving. Leave it.

So, I opened my ipad and searched until I identified the tree. And as it turns out, bees love the pollen on it. It’s also very early to bloom in the spring, when pollen is harder to find. So, I went down to the pond, to the sandy beach we tried to make that has been mostly a lesson in erosion…more on that later…and sure enough, more black willows along the edge. Dave asked me if I wanted him to cut them all back and we are leaving them…for the honeybees, and to hold that bank in. In fact, I’ll probably plant more, which, by the way, is incredibly easy, in moist soil. You cut a branch and stick it in the damp soil.

I won’t plant them close to any underground pipes or near the foundation, the roots will search out the water and clog the pipes.

Another important early source of food for pollinators, not just honeybees, is purple henbit, which is in full bloom right now. I was showing my hubs where to use the weed eater and stopped him at the henbit….”leave that. The honeybees are on it.” Dandelions are another important early bloomer. Yes, I’m that annoying neighbor that lets the dandelions bloom for the pollinators.

So, what am I getting at? Working with my environment, instead of trying to tame it. I think that’s my goal. And I think I will enjoy my yard, gardens and acreage more, if I embrace what wants to grow, (with the exception of the noxious thistles) and encourage more of those plants.

I have to be in this frame of mind to look for Nebraska native plants and flowers, when I go to a plant sale or nursery, because otherwise, it’s like going into a grocery store hungry and without a list.

Have a beautiful day. Go out and observe what is going on in the plants and flowers around you today!

Your friend,
Anne Dovel - The Fit Quilter

Black Willow

While stalking my honeybees to see if they were foraging close by, I discovered them all over this black willow.