Bees and roses

[twb]

Today I ran in to someone who is thinking of beginning a beekeeping addiction, er, hobby ;).  I offered my help, but their main concern was their roses.  They have lots of them and use Seven dust on them.  I think I have read that Seven is pretty bad for bees and that they gather it like pollen.  I really did not think honey bees went to roses.  So, I don't know exactly what they are dusting roses for, but surely there must be other more bee friendly products available.  Anybody do roses and bees in the same area?  What do you use on the roses?

[Kathyp]

my husband is the rose keeper.  he has always used a systemic insecticide/fungicide.  i was worried about it, but have very rarely found bees in the roses.  they are more often killed by getting caught in the spider webs around the roses.

[JP]

I don't believe there's a reason for a honeybee to visit a rose, not enough going on there.


...JP

[Brian D. Bray]

I don't believe there's a reason for a honeybee to visit a rose, not enough going on there.


...JP

A lot of smell and little or no food, possibly a pollen source if a dearth but leave 'em to the bumbles.

[pembroke]

I also use systemic (Bayer I believe) for roses. Have hives here at house and haven't seen bees on roses yet. Pembroke

[BjornBee]

Are there no natural applications to take the place of systemic products? What exactly are you treating for?

[poka-bee]

Bjorn, I use dish soap & water spray for aphids when I don't have a hatch of small Mantis.  It rains so much here that it gets washed off fairly quickly.  Also Diatom earth around the base if the plants for crawlies & slugs.  Most of the time I don't have too much of a problem.  Then again, I don't show my roses, just bring some in for bouquets!  J

[Kathyp]

insects and fungus.  with our weather and his time constraints, it is the most cost and time effective.

[BjornBee]

insects and fungus.  with our weather and his time constraints, it is the most cost and time effective.

Seems I hear that from just about everyone, from apple growers to lawn care professionals. Whatever is cheap, fast, and effective. Rarely does one include "safe".....  ;)

[Kathyp]

we do what we have to do.  cheap, fast, and effective, has it's place.  especially where ones livelyhood is at stake.  we all would go green if it were profitable.  ask the auto industry.

[jojoroxx]

Bees will forage and seem to enjoy quite a lot the SINGLE ROSES. Your classic long stem double beauties have nothing to offer them, but single roses are open and loaded with a wonderful pollen and perhaps even some nectar, because, in my experience, even when the clover was full-on they still would seek out the few heirloom (single) roses we have. Single blooming flowers (over their hybred "double" cousins) are recommended in most standard bee forage lists.

[BjornBee]

we do what we have to do.  cheap, fast, and effective, has it's place.  especially where ones livelyhood is at stake.  we all would go green if it were profitable.  ask the auto industry.

I really need an icon showing me biting the crap out of my lip while another is standing over me with a big stick getting ready to smack the crap out of me.

Let it go....let it go.....let it go..... 8-)    :-*

[Kathyp]

don't bite your lip.  that will hurt.  take your best shot, but we'd better move it down to the coffee house  :-)

[BjornBee]

don't bite your lip.  that will hurt.  take your best shot, but we'd better move it down to the coffee house  :-)

No need to move it Kathy. Although you lurked out here for some time waiting for my response.... :lol:  Don't lie...you knew it was coming.... :-* 

I actually typed out three different responses, and just settled for a gentle bump instead of my normal smack in the face. I'm trying to see things as others do, and not just my own view. And I have no idea what goes into roses and marketing, etc. So, perhaps I'm not the one to pick a fight.... ;)

[fermentedhiker]

but single roses are open and loaded with a wonderful pollen and perhaps even some nectar, because, in my experience, even when the clover was full-on they still would seek out the few heirloom (single) roses we have.

I'm certainly no botanist, but I don't think roses even have the necessary structures to produce nectar.  The book "Honey Plants of North America" lists roses in the section on plants which produce pollen only.  I have heard of people seeing hummingbirds drink rainwater that had collected on the leaves and petals of roses though.  Maybe bees have been observed doing this also and it has given rise to the impression that they are getting more than just pollen from them.

[Kathyp]

i'm not much of a lurker, but i do have a habit of forgetting to close tabs.....

[qa33010]

    I have a fifty plus year old rose bush that gets a lot of honeybee attention throughout the year.  There is also a garden near by that has Knockout Roses and they are covered also.  If lack of water is too severe they get some attention.  But a day or two after a good soaking rain they are again covered.

     I have plenty of ladybugs and about every couple years praying mantis show up and keep things pretty mellow.

[Cindi]

Bees will forage and seem to enjoy quite a lot the SINGLE ROSES. Your classic long stem double beauties have nothing to offer them, but single roses are open and loaded with a wonderful pollen and perhaps even some nectar, because, in my experience, even when the clover was full-on they still would seek out the few heirloom (single) roses we have. Single blooming flowers (over their hybred "double" cousins) are recommended in most standard bee forage lists.

That seems true also with the single, open faced dahlias.  I planted many seeds this year that I got from DayValleyDahlias here on our forum.  The bees loved the open faced, single dahlias, on them all the time.  Beautiful day, great life and health.  Cindi