What's flowering as forage in your area

[DaveG23]

Bees all over the Japanese knotweed collecting nectar. I thought it only produced pollen.View attachment 28255

Think you can buy knotweed honey in the states, known as Mexican bamboo in some parts over there. I wonder what temp it needs to produce nectar, I could be swimming in knotweed honey if it was warmer here. If the hybrid mont bretia was also a more reliable nectar source then I would really be laughing

 

[Erichalfbee]

Think you can buy knotweed honey in the states, known as Mexican bamboo in some parts

Yes the honey has a real red tinge.

 

[gregior]

Think you can buy knotweed honey in the states, known as Mexican bamboo in some parts over there. I wonder what temp it needs to produce nectar, I could be swimming in knotweed honey if it was warmer here. If the hybrid mont bretia was also a more reliable nectar source then I would really be laughing

They were only working it for the 2 hot days we had the other week it was over 25c.

 

[Curly green finger's]

this horrible stuff!! Haven't seen a single honey bee on it, but while picking blackberries some girls were feeding on the fruit, the first time I've noticed bees on blackberries since I've been beekeeping.

 

[Markthebuilder]

Don’t know what they are on but
Hives 2&4 bringing in yellow pollen with hives 1 & 2 bringing in brown and red respectively…

 

[Swarm]

Ivy in flower.

 

[E&MBees]

The ivy is finally in flower and the girls are loving it!

 

[gmonag]

The Ivy is strangely reluctant to flower in Suffolk. Lots of buds but all tightly shut.

 

[Brenda]

Amber nectar, going great guns on the Japanese Knotweed, I too have never seen this nectar before here in the NE Scotland.

 

[W0otz]

Walked past this in my local cemetery. More ivy than tree, maybe 20% in flower and the rest of the buds not far off. Honeybees, ivy bees and hoverflies in abundance, with a few wasps and butterflies for good measure.

Very strong ivy smell coming from my hive!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Still hammering the balsam here

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

View attachment 28421View attachment 28422this horrible stuff!! Haven't seen a single honey bee on it, but while picking blackberries some girls were feeding on the fruit, the first time I've noticed bees on blackberries since I've been beekeeping.

What? Himalayan balsam?

 

[Monbees]

this horrible stuff!! Haven't seen a single honey bee on it, but while picking blackberries some girls were feeding on the fruit, the first time I've noticed bees on blackberries since I've been beekeeping.

My bees feeding on fallen ripe/rotting pears. I guess because not much nectar around?

 

[Curly green finger's]

What? Himalayan balsam?

Yes

 

[Curly green finger's]

My bees feeding on fallen ripe/rotting pears. I guess because not much nectar around?

Aye the ivy hasn't started yet its late this year. I've also seen hedges been cut already a mile away down the hill.

 

[mbc]

 

[gmonag]

Finally, the Ivy is out in Suffolk.

 

[user 819]

View attachment 28423Walked past this in my local cemetery. More ivy than tree, maybe 20% in flower and the rest of the buds not far off. Honeybees, ivy bees and hoverflies in abundance, with a few wasps and butterflies for good measure.

Very strong ivy smell coming from my hive!

A great sight to see an ivy tree.

 

[enrico]

My bees feeding on fallen ripe/rotting pears. I guess because not much nectar around?

Mine prefer the green gauges. Wonder if it flavours the honey?

 

[simonwig]

Just on my way home from the Chelsea Flower Show. Obviously for the time of year fewer bee friendly flowers in bloom (but still good numbers). Clear winner for the number of bees was a new shrub to me, Seven Son Flower, or Heptacodium miconioides. Saw two specimens, both covered in honeybees, might have to find space for it.

Link to a relevant website Seven Son

Simon