Hi Claire. I think given our severe reduction in bees that having that pollinator male and setting it to take advantage of normal wind patterns could be helpful. Couldn't hurt.

Has anyone else had a reduction in berries this year? Dottie, that doesn't seem plausible to me. Not with such a huge difference from one year to the next. But thanks.

I see a huge difference one year to the next on lots of ilex varieties in my yards although the one ilex with any consistency in berrying is a savannah which is situated roadside.
Seems to me from what I observe that weather and wind directions during flowering varies every year and I think it contributes to the inconsistent berrying even if the ilex is fully flowered.

Could be. In over 15 years I've never seen that. Mine has never varied. Very discouraged b/c it is the centerpiece of my winter garden. Bare this year.

Thank you.

What happened to this site? There is practically no activity like years ago.

My grouping of them is having a good year this year but in years past they were wimpy. It seems to me that the older they are the better they make fruit. My oldest ones have been in the ground 3 years. My one years have no berries at all this year. My male is within 12 feet of all of them and there is a bee hive 30 feet away. I've always thought it was something to do with the weather that affected whether they made a lot of berries or not - I've never heard or read any explanation for it.