orchards

The cold temperatures that pistachio trees need to bloom on time are becoming more scarce as winters get warmer.

Environment

As Warm Winters Mess With Nut Trees' Sex Lives, Farmers Help Them 'Netflix And Chill'

11:19am February 17, 2020

by Lauren Sommer

Many fruit and nut trees need cold weather to bloom, which is becoming less common in a warming climate. So, farmers and scientists are teaming up to find ways to help orchards chill out and cope.

Queue Listen Now

A female blue orchard bee forages for nectar and pollen on Phacelia tanacetifolia flowers, also known as blue or purple tansy. Blue orchard bees are solitary bees that help pollinate California's almond orchards.

National
Science
Environment

Watch This Native Pollinator Build Her Bee-Jeweled Nest

9:00am August 14, 2018

by Gabriela Quirós

Research shows that 400 female blue orchard bees are as effective at pollinating almonds as the more than 10,000 bees in a honeybee hive. But they reproduce slowly and are prone to wandering.