What's flowering as forage in your area

[steve1958]

Still lots of balsum coming in.

 

[BMH]

Ivy just beginning to flower here in sunny South Wales. Lots of flower buds for weeks, but just starting to open now the weather has crashed. I hope it stays warm enough for the bees to take advantage.

Its a bummer isnt it. First buds opening today. Its 12c and thunderstorms

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[Erichalfbee]

Its a bummer isnt it. First buds opening today. Its 12c and thunderstorms

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My bees have been finding some but most of it is just starting and the bbc weather forecast is rain for 2 weeks
In a good year we can walk down our tree lined drive and the smell of ivy is intoxicating in the sunshine. In the morning the blooms are dripping with nectar which has started to crystallise on the flowers by the afternoon. .........Sigh

 

[Curly green finger's]

My bees have been finding some but most of it is just starting and the bbc weather forecast is rain for 2 weeks

In a good year we can walk down our tree lined drive and the smell of ivy is intoxicating in the sunshine. In the morning the blooms are dripping with nectar which has started to crystallise on the flowers by the afternoon. .........Sigh

Much the same in Shropshire and the olchon valley the ivy is just starting to flower and I've observed three days of ivy foraging .
My amms and bucks have been foraging in the rain .
Today more so very busy , looks like the weather will put a stop to it.


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[Antipodes]

Apple blossom time in the Apple Isle....

 

[Erichalfbee]

Apple blossom time in the Apple Isle....

Lovely
We had so much blossom on our fruit trees this spring you couldn’t see the trees. Bees if all kinds did well on them. Frost hit all the embryo fruit and out of ten trees we got three apples

 

[Antipodes]

That's interesting Dani....we've had some late frosts this year too, only light, so hopefully the fruit will still be ok.

 

[enrico]

The bees are going mad today on something. Not sure it is ivy because no pollen but surely that means it's nectar! Weighed the hives so I can see if they are bringing anything in or just teasing! We have had an amazing fruit year because of the early spring we had. We had tons of cherry plums, plums, apples of all varieties and even greengage.
My only drawback is some of my honey,( especially the spring honey) has this particular scent to it. I think it maybe leftover ivy but I really don't know! Does phacelia have a scent? It is sort of a yeasty smell but it is not fermenting and water levels are low! Can't wait to see what the pollen analysis says fro the honey monitoring lot!!!!! Anyone had any results yet?
E

 

[BMH]

The bees are going mad today on something. Not sure it is ivy because no pollen but surely that means it's nectar! Weighed the hives so I can see if they are bringing anything in or just teasing! We have had an amazing fruit year because of the early spring we had. We had tons of cherry plums, plums, apples of all varieties and even greengage.
My only drawback is some of my honey, especially the spring honey) has this particular scent to it. I think it maybe leftover ivy but I really don't know! Does phacelia have a scent? It is worth of a yeasty smell but it is not fermenting and water levels are low! Can't wait to see what the pollen analysis says fro the honey monitoring lot!!!!! Anyone had any results yet?
E

Mine are going absolutely crazy on the ivy today

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[Antipodes]

"My only drawback is some of my honey, especially the spring honey) has this particular scent to it".

Enrico...Just harvested some fresh spring honey (currently spring here on the other side of the world), and it is slightly whiffy too. Last year I blamed the dandelions but they are not out yet. I'm with you on the drawback aspect.

 

[Ian123]

The bees are going mad today on something. Not sure it is ivy because no pollen but surely that means it's nectar! Weighed the hives so I can see if they are bringing anything in or just teasing! We have had an amazing fruit year because of the early spring we had. We had tons of cherry plums, plums, apples of all varieties and even greengage.
My only drawback is some of my honey,( especially the spring honey) has this particular scent to it. I think it maybe leftover ivy but I really don't know! Does phacelia have a scent? It is sort of a yeasty smell but it is not fermenting and water levels are low! Can't wait to see what the pollen analysis says fro the honey monitoring lot!!!!! Anyone had any results yet?
E

Could well be ivy but pollens not great in the damp conditions. You often notice the baskets get larger during the day as things dry out

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

A bit like old socks?
Could be dandelion

 

[enrico]

A bit like old socks?
Could be dandelion

Thanks JBM, wish I could put smells on my threadl
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

The old socks smell dissipates somewhat and a year later the honey has matured into something quite lovely. See if you can leave a bucketful till next autumn

 

[Curly green finger's]

Ivy flow for the fourth day now in between rainy days..
I've not seen a flow like it in three years one double has a super on with five/ six frames of capped honey , not a lot but more than I've seen in my short time as a beek on Clee hill .
Also hb- ghost bee's coming into the hives on the hill and down in the valley.

I've come to the conclusion the honey in the super is more than likely hb honey as they couldn't cap five frames in such a short time could they??

 

[Millet]

Ivy not ready yet on the North East Coast but on the nice days the bees are bringing loads of balsam pollen in..i also planted another 45 Hyacinth bulbs to offer the bees some early pollen in spring to go with the other 40 i planted last year along with the 400 crocuses..

 

[Curly green finger's]

Ivy not ready yet on the North East Coast but on the nice days the bees are bringing loads of balsam pollen in..i also planted another 45 Hyacinth bulbs to offer the bees some early pollen in spring to go with the other 40 i planted last year along with the 400 crocuses..

I can remember seeing the photos you put on here Steve .
You keep planting bulbs every autumn you will have a collection of pots .

 

[Antipodes]

Second photo is Hawthorn in full flower now and first photo is of the flowers of a plant unique to here, the Tasmanian Laurel (anopterus glandulosus), down in the wet forests...apparently good nectar producer, so fingers crossed.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Second photo is Hawthorn in full flower now and first photo is of the flowers of a plant unique to here, the Tasmanian Laurel (anopterus glandulosus), down in the wet forests...apparently good nectar producer, so fingers crossed.

Nice pictures , do you find you have much of a honey flow from Hawthorne? Over here it's called the 11 0 clock tree and in three seasons I've only had one good season with Hawthorne flows and that was the spring following the beast from the east .
This spring in my area the spring crop wasn't good and got left for the bees , but the summer crop was my best so far.

Looking at your picture's brings back memories and smells I can't wait to rekindle next spring , I hope your spring goes well and the weather is fair enough for your girls to make the hives hum...

 

[Beefriendly]

It's very variable is Hawthorne, needs the right conditions to yield copious nectar.
Called the 11 O@clock tree as on a warm day that is the time of day when nectar (and bees) arrive in the flowers.
Had one good Hawthorne crop about 3 years ago, nowt since despite lots of Hawthorne in blossom