What's flowering as forage in your area

[Fusion_power]

Different climate so different perspective. Daffodils bloomed heavily about 2 weeks ago, maple trees are about half way bloomed, pear trees are in full bloom now, and henbit is a purple carpet in many lawns. A quick check of a large colony today revealed fresh made wax and some stored maple nectar. This colony will swarm within two weeks so my son and I will split them next weekend. The main spring flow in this area starts between April 15th and 25th so is still about 6 weeks away.

 

[Amari]

I'll bet you're sorry you asked ...

Rhys Hicks was a cousin of my great grandfather (William Jenkins) and was also uncle to my great grandmother's half brother Richard Hicks (long story - shared the same father).
Rhys died in 1972 (I only vaguely remember him)He owned all the farm land around Brynmair (his mother actually sold the plot that Brynmair was built on back during the first world war) sold part of the farm in 1946 for the building of a council estate and one of the many Grenfell factories built at that time (part of which still there behind me), widowed, remarried and retired, buying Brynmair back as a retirement home, he also retained a small corner of one field where he kept bees when he had the farm (which is only two fields away) he used that plot to keep bees and grow flowers. He doted on my father, and he and his first wife being childless always said that my father was their heir. Unfortunately his second wife Mabel was an evil money grabbing baggot so my Dad didn't even get the clock he was promised when Rhys died.
When Auntie Mabel finally turned her toes, I bought Brynmair. As my mother's father said at the time "You must be the only man in the valley that had to buy his own inheritance!"

Fascinating family history, JBM. Maybe we should request @administration, via the moderators, that we start a sub-Forum 'Beekeepers' genealogy'?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Fascinating family history, JBM. Maybe we should request @administration, via the moderators, that we start a sub-Forum 'Beekeepers' genealogy'?

My Great grandmother's Leigh family lineage is much more interesting, especially the Pritchard branch which joined ours in the Tudor era (in fact, they were Tudors!) - the Pritchards were descended from the Welsh Royal family and can be followed all the way back to the sixth century

 

[Amari]

If we had a beekeepers' genealogy sub-forum we might find we are all descended from Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, as I believe you are. As for the 6th century, this doesn't beat the lineage of our luncheon guest, as previously posted:
https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/threads/nhs-poor-cost-control.52088/page-5#post-806678

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

we might find we are all descended from Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, as I believe you are

no, he was a cousin of my ancestor Rhys Ap Gruffydd, Prince of Deheubarth

 

[Erichalfbee]

Fascinating family history, JBM. Maybe we should request @administration, via the moderators, that we start a sub-Forum 'Beekeepers' genealogy'?

Start a blog

 

[Bumble Bee Slim]

10°c and quite a breeze but much willow pollen coming in and a fair bit of gorse ... caught this one in the garden.

 

[JamezF]

Looks like the earliest of our blackthorn might be tempted to flower soon. I saw some definite white buds when I went out to collect the bins from the end of the drive yesterday.

James

 

[Dodge]

Been to out out appiary near Henley in Arden, the difference to what is flowing in urban areas is stark. Blackthorn is out but there is very little of it as this part of Warkwickshire is predominantly Hawthorn. Come to the urban areas of Solihull and there is Blackthorn, Daffs, Crocus and cherry flowering everywhere.

 

[Michael Palmer]

OMG you guys. Having a foot of snow today. 0F tonight. Gotta love it.

 

[thorn]

Dick Turpin's grandfather is my many times great grandfather. But one of my relatives goes one better. He's got the Turpins on one side and Judge Jeffries on the other.

 

[Moobee]

Bees are all over the pussywillow and celandine.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I love this time of year when the willow flowers open....just before that first look in. Ours are still tight shut but it won't be long. My first inspection is usually around the end of March beginning of April.

 

[Moobee]

I love this time of year when the willow flowers open....just before that first look in. Ours are still tight shut but it won't be long. My first inspection is usually around the end of March beginning of April.

My bees were flying in a steady line to and from the willow all day yesterday. Fantastic to see

 

[Erichalfbee]

Bees out on grape hyacinth, the last of the snowdrops and crocus in the garden and trying their luck on the smaller white Pulmonaria. I’ve got bees collecting pollen from the smaller daffs

 

[Curly green finger's]

Mine are on the crocus in the garden

 

[Amari]

A distinct hum from several honey bees as I stand next to this dwarf prunus

 

[Swarm]

A distinct hum from several honey bees as I stand next to this dwarf prunus

I've got one of those, good early pollen source

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Noticed the Lidl blackthorn was flowering yesterday - it seems to be a week or two earlier than the rest of the valley

 

[Erichalfbee]

Bees out on grape hyacinth, the last of the snowdrops and crocus in the garden and trying their luck on the smaller white Pulmonaria. I’ve got bees collecting pollen from the smaller daffsView attachment 30803View attachment 30804

This is the one sent to bbc weather watchers
My bee on Derek’s weather forecast. Fame at last