On 2009-05-02 19:07:10 +0100, David Rance
said:

On Sat, 2 May 2009 Sacha wrote:

All my fruit trees have abundant blossom this year, great, thought I.
However I was down by an apple tree this morning, warm, sunny little
wind. The abundant blossom was fully open, but now sight nor sound of
bees, would not it have been normal for the bees to be bust setting my
apples?

Should be but as you know bees are in short supply and deep trouble. Do
you know of a local apiarist who would like to put a hive in your
orchard? They'd probably be grateful of the space and you'd be glad of
the bees.

Actually in Normandy there are a lot of bees around this year, but they
aren't hive bees. They seem to be the solitary sort and fly close to
the ground most of the time. It's difficult not to tread on them. We
had quite a few of them here in Reading, too. Our cats kept trying to
catch them and we were worried that they might get stung.

David

Are those what are called borer bees? Those might be the source of the
strange noise you were hearing in your garden, perhaps? I imagine
they'd still pollinate plants and I *think* - not sure - that only the
females sting. Mind you, by the time you've got close enough to see
which is male and which is female you might - or might not - have been
stung!
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Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Exotic plants, shrubs & perennials
South Devon