From the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority:

It’s flowering season for most of our native trees and shrubs! While all trees and shrubs produce flowers, not all produce showy blooms.

Wind pollinated trees like maples and oaks produce a lot of lightweight pollen that is carried in the air to other tree flowers of the same species. They trade off the expense of developing methods that attract pollinators, like petals and scents.

Insect-pollinated trees and shrubs like dogwoods and tulip trees use colourful or fragrant flowers to attract insects to them. In return, the pollinators (bees, butteflies, etc.) get nectar and pollen to eat. In the process, the sticky pollen gets stuck to them, so they carry it over to the next blossom of the same species for pollination.

Find out more in our Thames River Current newsletter.