What's flowering as forage in your area

[Erichalfbee]

Bees out in force on the Holly yesterday. Blowy and showery today, though

 

[NickM]

Blackberry-like flowers here in NE Somerset, but these are on Dewberry rather than your actual Blackberry

 

[markb2603]

We only just have the hawthorn coming to bloom here. 2 days of warm rainy weather today and tomorrow should help bring more into flower before what looks to be another week of great sunny weather. Hopefully I can get a spring crop this year!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hawthorn's been going great guns for a week around here, but at the range apiary and the castle (a bit higher in altitude) they are still in tight bud.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

From a couple of days ago: Lots of yellow rattle in the 'orchard' apiaries, and beans flowering at the nature reserve. That was unexpected because the plants are much smaller this year.

 

[Nannysbees]

Anyone had any issues with caterpillar infestation in a buxus plant?

 

[Wilco]

Anyone had any issues with caterpillar infestation in a buxus plant?

I believe it's usually simpler to replace the Buxus with a different species of plant.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I believe it's usually simpler to replace the Buxus with a different species of plant.

Japanese holly

 

[Nannysbees]

I believe it's usually simpler to replace the Buxus with a different species of plant.

Oh god really these specimens are huge I've had them for years!!

 

[RJC]

Oh god really these specimens are huge I've had them for years!!

It's probably box moth, a recently established invasive species. A lot of formal gardens are having serious problems. https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/box-tree-caterpillar

 

[Moobee]

Oh god really these specimens are huge I've had them for years!!

Monty Don had to replace all of his due to this invasive insect. Believe he now has yew instead.

 

[holmbee]

I believe it's usually simpler to replace the Buxus with a different species of plant.

Have you tried spraying them with Xentari (Bacillus Thuringiensis). That does kill box caterpillar. Available from Amazon or small quantities on ebay.

 

[Nannysbees]

Have you tried spraying them with Xentari (Bacillus Thuringiensis). That does kill box caterpillar. Available from Amazon or small quantities on ebay.

Sprayed with Dipel on desperation and ordered nematodes, removed the two huge box balls, they were infested and going to use the nematodes on the lower hedges and pray to god it works, otherwise they'll have to be dug up as well

 

[holmbee]

Sprayed with Dipel on desperation and ordered nematodes, removed the two huge box balls, they were infested and going to use the nematodes on the lower hedges and pray to god it works, otherwise they'll have to be dug up as well

Sounds bad. Lots of sympathy.

 

[Aneebe]

Enkianthus campanulatus (looks nicer than its name). I've never been overly aware of my bees working it but the buzzing was so loud a few days back that I could hear it from the greenhouse. It is covered in beautiful bell-like coral coloured blooms hence the name. It had been sadly neglected for many years so I suspect that the chopping I've had to give it (it's not really a nice little border shrub) has shaken things up a bit. Lots of bumbles working it too.

 

[JamezF]

Bumbles and honey bees working hard on the cotoneaster today. And the raspberries. I think it's safe to say that the sycamore is over.

James

 

[Nannysbees]

Scabious, love this little flower, keeps giving blooms late into the summer

 

[Moobee]

Brick red pollen from chestnut going in today. The trees are not that close by so the bees are flying about a mile to forage on them.

 

[Swampie]

I was led to believe that creeping buttercup pollen was poisonous to honeybees? My girls are hitting it hard (while ingoring the good wholesome clover right next door). I had a terse word.

 

[Swampie]

In other news, our first early blackberry patch is flowering. Pretty relieved it's coming early. The hawthorn in that area was a no show.