Missing

I'm writing from the Haw Creek area and am interested in whether or not anyone else..the valley or elsewhere, has noticed a profound lack of hummingbirds, wasps and bees this season. I've been in the valley for twenty years and I've never had this lack of activity before. Also, where are the dandeliens? Is there a connection?

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Permalink Reply by Polly McDaniel on June 7, 2009 at 11:44am

Well come on over to West Asheville for your dandelions and bees. We've got both, lots. As for the hummingbirds, my experience is that they are more active in July/August/September. But you've got a point on the wasps. Now that you mention it.

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Permalink Reply by Bert Nagel on June 11, 2009 at 11:50am

Thanks for the response Polly. We must be living in a "dead zone".

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Permalink Reply by Linda on June 20, 2009 at 1:24am

We have bummers and wasps this year too outside of Hendersonville. Our dandelions are well gone by but the white clover is growing like mad for the honey bees.

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Permalink Reply by Katherine on July 12, 2009 at 9:53pm

The hummingbirds were late here in Marshall this year - probably the rainy weather we had, but now are out in force. Plenty of bees, but I haven't found one yellow jacket or hornets nest this year! They usually build up numbers so that I start seeing them July 1 - they may also be late this year.

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Permalink Reply by Bert Nagel on July 12, 2009 at 10:27pm

It's the middle of July and the hummers that show up mid-April have yet to arrive. We see one now and then..like once per week or so but that's about it. I change the feeders every week so it's not the offerings. Yellow jackets and wasps are still noticeabley absent and after an early flurry of activity we haven't seen much butterfly activity either. Between the cone flowers, blackeyed susans and butterfly bushes there's no lack of offerings there either. Strange year. 20 years in the valley and this is a first.

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Permalink Reply by kirsten on August 16, 2009 at 12:27pm

I live in north asheville and we have our usual hummers this year. There does seem to be less honeybee, but I have lots of bumblebees and a large yellow jacket population. Each year I try to add more flowering plants to attract the bees in the area. They all seem to love mountain peppermint.