English Laurel – 2012

The big load of pollen on the bee tells you what the bees are after in the Laurel. After blossoming we plan to prune back the Laurel to see if new shoots and blossoms appear later in the year.

English Laurel blossoms

English Laurel takes a break

On May 14 the English laurel was in bloom and attracting many pollinators. (see inset) Now it has gone to seed while the blueberries have reached peak pollination. The new growth on the Laurel will soon provide a new set of blossoms. The blueberry plants and the Laurels may be plants that work in harmony to provide forage for the bees. (Click on picture to enlarge.)

English Laurel

Bees and birds love the English laurel

In our city the shopping centre and municipal hall have just landscaped with English laurel as the most popular planting. Bees from the surrounding farmland are drawn to the flowers and birds can’t resist the fruit.

English laurel

English Laurel (cherry laurel)

English laurel

Years after a bird deposited the seed this English laurel is covered in bloom. Laurels grown from cuttings bloom right away. The negative for laurels is that they compete for bees during blueberry bloom. The positive is that they bloom through the entire season.