The flowering of linden begins when in fruit trees for the most part it has already ended - in the middle or end of June. Many are looking forward to this event. The air in this period is filled with a unique gentle fragrance. Linden, the flowering of which is so short, is a valuable medicinal raw material. Its flowers can be stocked at this time for a whole year.
Linden: flowering and tree features
The crown of the tree becomes a solid golden ball, exuding honey aroma. Each inflorescence consists of 10-15 flowers. They have five petals and many stamens. Flowering is so plentiful that the branches bend under their weight. Heart-shaped linden, growing in most regions of Russia, has a spreading wide crown. Sometimes these trees grow apart, but more often - along with maple, oak and ash, as well as other tree species. Initially, linden, the flowering of which begins only between ten and twenty years, grows very slowly. The process is slightly accelerated if the tree is in an open area.
Linden: flowering and value as a honey plant
It is estimated that a hectare of forest, consisting entirely of these middle-aged trees, can produce about a ton of sweet nectar in two weeks. For bees, this is a real paradise. Linden honey has a number of healing properties, for which it is highly appreciated. Scientists have noticed that lime trees have reduced nectar production in recent years. You can deal with this by planting different varieties at a short distance from each other. Small-leaved and large-leaved (European, Manchu and other) lindens have different flowering times. At the same time growing trees of different varieties on one site, you can increase the amount of nectar that bees will collect. The flowering time of large-leaved linden begins five or eight days earlier than the Amur and Manchurian. By collecting different varieties of these trees on one site, you can increase the period during which the bees have the opportunity to collect nectar from them, from two weeks to four. Thus, apiaries located not far from linden plantings can be guaranteed annually provided with honey, even if one particular variety cannot bloom and provide nectar production due to temperature fluctuations of one year.
Lime in cities and towns
This tree used to be loved for flowering, aroma, frost resistance and beauty. Nowadays, linden planted in cities helps fight gas pollution. Lush foliage absorbs dust and carbon dioxide. Hundreds of cubic meters of oxygen, which is released by linden trees, revitalize the urban atmosphere. If different types of lindens are planted in parks and gardens, the different duration of the growing season will provide bright greens for most of the year. After all, some of them begin to drop leaves only at the end of October. The medicinal properties of lime blossom are widely known . But they will appear only if the raw materials are harvested in ecologically clean areas. Therefore, it is not recommended to collect linden blossom in cities and along highways.