What's flowering as forage in your area

[tonyofarr]

We have been thinking about getting a Eucryphia since seeing one covered in bees at Wakehurst place (Sussex) in August. How long have you had a Eucryphia Dani, and how exposed are you? We are 8 miles in land from Bude and our weather is mostly driven by the Atlantic systems..........all the trees here slope away from the sea.

 

[Erichalfbee]

We have been thinking about getting a Eucryphia since seeing one covered in bees at Wakehurst place (Sussex) in August. How long have you had a Eucryphia Dani, and how exposed are you? We are 8 miles in land from Bude and our weather is mostly driven by the Atlantic systems..........all the trees here slope away from the sea.

We are quite sheltered here though winter winds rip down the valley.
Garden is surrounded by trees and shrubs. Tree is maybe eight years old. Absolutely covered in blossom last year.

 

[tonyofarr]

Which variety of Eucryphia is it and where did you get it?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Which variety of Eucryphia is it and where did you get it?

It’s E. nymansensis. Nothing special and easy to grow. Stan and I were camping at Kipford in Dumfries and Galloway. The camp site had one that was thirty feet high. I’d never seen one. It was amazing. So we stopped off at a nearby nursery and I explained what it looked like and the chap found it in a book but didn’t have one. They are available at lots of places. I get my “unusual” trees and shrubs from Burncoose; not the cheapest but excellent quality. I think that’s where it came from.

 

[tonyofarr]

Thanks very much Dani, you are very helpful.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Burncoose have a planting guide here, Tony. They suggest that in Cornwall, given the wind, it may grow more as shrub, but presume down your way the winds are warmer than some. The Telegraph printed a How to Grow Eucryphia by Ursula Buchan in 2005 but the paywall prevents me reading it. You may know a Telegraph reader who can help.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Burncoose have a planting guide here, Tony. They suggest that in Cornwall, given the wind, it may grow more as shrub, but presume down your way the winds are warmer than some. The Telegraph printed a How to Grow Eucryphia by Ursula Buchan in 2005 but the paywall prevents me reading it. You may know a Telegraph reader who can help.

Here you are.

 

[Fritillary]

Oh dear, and now there's an attractive variegated one available too. Another avenue of temptation opens up. What would I do without this forum??

 

[Murox]

Garden crocus just colouring up and spotted a first new bloom on a daisy whilst out walking, some buds appearing slowly on garden bushes.

 

[pargyle]

Garden crocus just colouring up and spotted a first new bloom on a daisy whilst out walking, some buds appearing slowly on garden bushes.

Down here on the Costa del Fareham we are at least three weeks ahead of you up there in Scotland.

Lots of buds and some leaves on my fruit bushes and fruit trees, crocus well up, snowdrops now going over, daffodils well up, over wintered broad beans and onions growing well - they don't seem to have had a dormant spell at all this winter where it has been so mild.

We had a couple of frosty days last week (nothing by Scottish standards) when I had to defrost the car and they were the first sub-zero nights we've had this winter.

It's a bit of a worry that everything is so early .. my plum trees will be blooming before long and if we then get a heavy frost it will be the end of this year's plum crop.

 

[Murox]

Down here on the Costa del Fareham we are at least three weeks ahead of you up there in Scotland.
Lots of buds and some leaves on my fruit bushes and fruit trees, crocus well up, snowdrops now going over, daffodils well up, over wintered broad beans and onions growing well - they don't seem to have had a dormant spell at all this winter where it has been so mild.
We had a couple of frosty days last week (nothing by Scottish standards) when I had to defrost the car and they were the first sub-zero nights we've had this winter.
It's a bit of a worry that everything is so early .. my plum trees will be blooming before long and if we then get a heavy frost it will be the end of this year's plum crop.

I am fortunate in that we seldom get any frost - gulf stream coastal influence - but we do get truly hammered by Atlantic winds/gales and that combined with darker days does hold growth down/back - conversely in the summer months - very long days

 

[ericbeaumont]

I am fortunate in that we seldom get any frost - gulf stream coastal influence

Planning where to plant those eucryphia, Murox? Sounds like an ideal location: Gulf warmth and acid soil (6ish pH according to the UK Soil Observatory). Obviously windy - the wind farm seems to be struggling financially - but at least it's mild wind.
PS: thanks for the Telegraph article, Dani.

 

[tonyofarr]

Thank you for the links.

The climate where we are can usually be summed up as wet and mild but we do get hit by gales. We have some banks and 'hedges' of mature trees and we have some elm trees that have reached 30' and they are being hit by Dutch Elm disease and need to be removed; a Eucryphia planted in those spaces would be protected from the prevailing wind and be great for the bees.

My wife has always wanted an almond tree as well, when she was a kid she used to walk past an old established tree on the way to school, and she loved the flowers in the spring and the sticky nut cases dropping on the pavement in the autumn.

So, the next question is, does anyone on the forum have almond trees?

 

[Amari]

I have a pink scented viburnum in full bloom in my apiary. A few days ago in full sun but a chilly 5C I saw a red admiral flitting from flower to flower. No bees though.

 

[pargyle]

I have a pink scented viburnum in full bloom in my apiary. A few days ago in full sun but a chilly 5C I saw a red admiral flitting from flower to flower. No bees though.

Saw my first bumble down at the allotment yesterday ... not great weather, cloudy and overcast and damp and rainy today. Not a great start for a queen bumble - hopefully she found somewhere to continue her winter slumbers ..too early to wake up I think.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Saw my first bumble down at the allotment yesterday ... not great weather, cloudy and overcast and damp and rainy today. Not a great start for a queen bumble - hopefully she found somewhere to continue her winter slumbers ..too early to wake up I think.

You might have some winter active nests down there

 

[pargyle]

You might have some winter active nests down there

It's very possible .. been so warm this winter it's ridiculous. It looked like a queen bumble though .. big old bee that came out from the space under my IBC water butt that is raised on timber supports. Surprised me a bit, I was on my hands and knees alongside the water butt weeding in between my leeks ! (That's vegetable leeks not water leaks I would add ...)

 

[Murox]

Planning where to plant those eucryphia, Murox? Sounds like an ideal location: Gulf warmth and acid soil (6ish pH according to the UK Soil Observatory). Obviously windy - the wind farm seems to be struggling financially - but at least it's mild wind.
PS: thanks for the Telegraph article, Dani.

Great link the uk soil observatory - thanks. I believe CS Wind are ok ish for now. They fabricate all the big round bits of steel tube. As for planting eucryphia , well yes maybe.

 

[Antipodes]

So, the next question is, does anyone on the forum have almond trees?[/QUOTE]

Yes....just one. Bees really go for the flowers and it is always very early to flower. The cockatoos rip into the nuts at this time of the year, shredding the lot! I went to check if I had any honey from the Eucryphia (lucida) rainforest yesterday but nothing unfortunately. Others at the site were taking heaps of honey away...about 10kg per week per hive!

 

[Antipodes]

I was trying to upload a photo of the almond but I've struck trouble with it.....I'll try later.