Cross over point

[Millet]

Blackthorn is in bud here,
Hawthorne not around till May?

I have that near by but not in large amounts, probably around a 25yard stretch on a hedge.

 

[mbc]

In some years in my area the blackthorn is covered in honey bees actively collecting nectar and pollen.

They always visit it here too, some years they bring considerable quantities of nectar back but it is thin stuff reduced to almost nothing by the time they've ripened it and consumed a bit in my experience. It'd not out yet here so it's likely the dandelion and possibly willow will be out in force at about the same time this year, bring it on!

 

[drex]

From what I have read and from my limited experience both black thorn and hawthorn are sporadic in nectar production. Last year was a good year.

 

[Swarm]

From what I have read and from my limited experience both black thorn and hawthorn are sporadic in nectar production. Last year was a good year.

Again, depends on location as well, last year was not a good one here. A shame too, as Hawthorn is gorgeous honey.
Always see bees on Blackthorn, too.

 

[Curly green fingers]

What are thorn.. do you mean Hawthorn ..?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_spinosa

Hi Steve blackthorn they don't grow very big. There is hawthorn but there further down the hill a mile away.

 

[drex]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_spinosa

Hi Steve blackthorn they don't grow very big. There is hawthorn but there further down the hill a mile away.

You want to see the Blackthorn round my allotment/apiary then.

 

[Zante]

I should have a couple of acres of peaches blooming near my apiary more or less now.
Also rosemary is in bloom and there's quite a substantial hedge on the road to the apiary plus any plants that the people around may have.

 

[Finman]

.
1.5 month to willow blooming and 2.5 month to apple blooming.
.

 

[SDM]

I don't know about my bees, but I'm damn sure I couldn't stand your winters.

 

[Curly green fingers]

.
1.5 month to willow blooming and 2.5 month to apple blooming.
.

I'm about 3 weeks for willow pollen locally to be out fully. Might be more if the weather stays cold!

 

[bontbee]

.
...Many beekeepers say that bees forage Sorbus aucuparia honey. But I cannot see any size droplets of nectar in flowers...

I have a large S. aucuparia in the garden - there's often lots of bees on it, but I've only seen pollen collected...

 

[Beefriendly]

How to you know when nectar has been collected?

 

[Curly green fingers]

You want to see the Blackthorn round my allotment/apiary then.

The weather keeps them small where there exposed!

 

[Teebeeaitch]

To get back to the original question. If the colony is still alive on 1st March, in the UK they have survived winter as meterologically it’s spring.

 

[Eyeman]

Mini-beast from the east

The cross over point where we see colony numbers increasing is likely to be delayed by this latest weather warning. Brood will be lost as the colony clusters and from lack of foraging for pollen. Many colonies will dwindle as they wont be able to recover from this set back. Only the strongest will survive!
Me thinks we are going to see a dramatic increase in 'winter' losses come the time April arrives.

 

[Poly Hive]

Technicalities are one thing and realities quite another.

PH

 

[Finman]

. Only the strongest will survive!


Me thinks we are going to see a dramatic increase in 'winter' losses come the time April arrives.

Good heavens! Few day temps are there +10C to 0C and most of hives will die?

Trust on fact, moisture kills, not cold!!!!
.

 

[Eyeman]

Good heavens! Few day temps are there +10C to 0C and most of hives will die?

Trust on fact, moisture kills, not cold!!!!
.

We shall wait and see!
We have had mild winters for the past couple of years so many 'lame ducks' have got through to spring by the 'skin-of-their-teeth'!
Anybody else thinking of putting up their overwintered nuc prices this year?

 

[Finman]

.
We have had very exceptional summers and very mild winters during last 3 years. If the experience comes from that, it will be missleading, but not worse that just the beginning.

Our hives do not have done cleansing flight, and it seems that they will not do it during March. Bees closed themselves into the hive in late Ochtober. Now they have been inside 5 months.

As told, I put a terrarium heater into 8 weak hives for this cold period.

 

[Into the lions den]

We shall wait and see!
We have had mild winters for the past couple of years so many 'lame ducks' have got through to spring by the 'skin-of-their-teeth'!
Anybody else thinking of putting up their overwintered nuc prices this year?

Throughout the UK, with a few exceptions, early indications are that the winter losses are exceptionally low. The late spring might weed out the stragglers but it is most unlikely to raise the losses to anything much above normal. Its still WAY too early to be counting chickens however, and all the queen problems are still to be found.

Our nuc prices are raised only to cover inflation. We still keep it reasonable as I don't believe in asking money for nucs I would not consider to be value myself.

Quite heavy losses already being reported on the continent and package bee demand (now folk are wise to the rebadging trick) is way ahead of supply.