In the fragrant valleys of the Alps, May is usually a time of blossom and promise. But this year, something is missing. Fewer bees. Less sound. And soon, perhaps, fewer fruits.
Instead of the usual buzzing over apple and cherry blossoms, many orchards are unusually quiet. Beekeepers in Switzerland, Austria and Northern Italy are reporting significant bee losses, and the consequences are already showing. Flowers are blooming, but the fruit is failing to follow. Why? Because there are not enough pollinators.
Climate change has disrupted nature’s rhythm. Warmer February, sudden April frosts, unstable May weather – all this confuses bees and plants alike. Bees fly out early, find no nectar, return weakened. Disease, loss of habitat, and a lack of diverse flowers complete the picture.
For consumers, it means less sweet, often pricier fruit. For farmers, it means reduced yields and more risk. For all of us, it’s a warning.
Fortunately, solutions exist: flower strips between fields, fewer pesticides, support for beekeepers, and more flowering plants in towns and villages. Small steps that can bring back the buzz.
Because without bees, life loses its flavor.
