LMT_Apr_17_2022_Vol_116_issue_17 v2

lmtimes.ca • Last Mountain Times • Monday, April 17, 2023
7
Pollination
In order to understand the complexities of growing fruit we need to understand a bit more about the
birds and the bees or more scientifically.
-BY, Patricia Hanbidge
April 16 th , 2023
It is sometimes hard to believe that there
is more to the beauty and scent of a flower
than our own personal enjoyment. However,
the primary purpose of a flower is to seduce
insects to pay a visit and in that process pollinate
the flower so it is possible to continue life
and allow the flower to produce seeds. Take the
apple tree as an example – if not for the bees
our efforts to grow these fruit would in fact be
“fruitless”.
This process of pollination that occurs with
the visit of a bee or other insect is the actual
transfer of pollen grains from the stamen (male
part of the flower) to the stigma (female part of
the flower). If this results in a successful fertilization,
then the wonder of life continues. The
previously undeveloped seeds that are present
in the ovary of the flower will start the development
into viable seeds. Again using apple trees
as an example, this development of viable seeds
also begins the development of the apple itself.
Some plants will also be pollinated by things
other than bees. For example, most of the trees
we commonly use for our urban forests rely on
the wind for that wondrous transfer of pollen.
Interestingly enough, these trees do not have
very showy flowers as the wind is not enticed by
beauty and scent like an insect would be.
Now that we have simplified the process of pollination
– let’s make it more realistic as Mother
Nature is of course in reality more complex.
Some flowers are what we call “perfect” and
contain both male and female parts. But, there
are flowers that contain only one sexual part so
are distinctly either male or female. Those containing
only pistils are considered female while
those containing only stamens are considered
male.
Some plants will have both male and female
flowers on the same plant. This is termed a
monoecious plant and a good example of this
would be the pumpkin. A plant that has only
male or female flowers is termed dioecious. At
this point you may be wondering why it matters
who is monoecious and who is dioecious – but
it actually is quite important. Take the poplar
tree as a great example of why this does indeed
Cherry Blossoms
matter. It is usually in June when the female
cottonwoods (a type of poplar) produce a veritable
blizzard of fluff (which actually contains
the seed) – a large problem when enjoying the
outdoor patio, especially if allergic! A simple
way to solve this problem is to grow only he
male clones which of course do not produce seed
and voila – no fluff.
Just to add one more complexity, some plants
require cross-pollination (like apples) while
others are able to be self-pollinated. In order for
an apple (blueberry, hazelnut and most plums)
to be produced they require the pollen of a
genetically different but closely related plant for
fertilization to occur. Hence, the directive you
have likely heard often says that you need two
different apple trees to get fruit!
The circle of life is complex regardless of the
species involved. I hope you have enjoyed this
brief foray into the wonders of renewal in the
life of a plant! Watch for the next articles on
more fruit you can grow successfully! Happy
gardening this summer…..and may you question
“why” just a little bit more often!
More housing was built in Canada
during the 1970s than now
Despite rising population and growing demand, more housing was constructed in Canadian cities
during the 1970s than what is presently being built, according to a new study released today by the
Fraser Institute.
-BY, Media Release, Fraser Institute
April 13, 2023
“The reality is simple: Canada is not building
enough homes to keep up with population
growth or basic demand,” said Steve Lafleur,
senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and
co-author of Canada’s Housing Mismatch: Canadians
want ground-oriented homes, but not
enough are being built.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,
many of Canada’s real estate markets have
experienced significant price increases.
The study finds that, Canada-wide home prices
were 28 per cent higher in February 2023 than
in March 2020, despite falling from record
high appreciation in early 2022.
Critically, “ground-oriented” single-family
homes and townhouse prices increased by 31
per cent, compared with a 17 per cent increase
among apartments over the same period.
Despite strong demand, ground-oriented housing
completions declined during the 2010s,
alongside a general national decline in housing
completions compared to the 1970s.
“Not only is there a widespread shortage of
housing, but there is a growing mismatch between
the housing types being built and those
preferred by Canadians,” said Josef Filipowicz,
senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and study
co-author.
“Clearly we should focus on the causes and
consequences of this mismatch, as well as solutions
for Canadians now and in the future.”
FRASER INSTITUTE IS AN INDEPENDENT, nonpartisan
Canadian public policy think-tank.