What's flowering as forage in your area

[OrchardBees]

Mine are going beserk on a 40ft Sarcococca hedge (white pollen = pretty white faces). The noise was incredible!

 

[The Poot]

Mine are going beserk on a 40ft Sarcococca hedge (white pollen = pretty white faces). The noise was incredible!

They are so aromatic too

 

[Amari]

Primrose and snowdrops busy in the sun today... Daphne and Mahonia still going strong and the hellebores are out... bees very busy today
in the sub tropical greatgreygreenslimeytamarrivervalleyallsetaboutwithtorybrixiteersallcomplainingaboutthetimeitistakingtheirUPSdeliveryoffreshsausageandsaurcrauttocomefromgermany!

 

[OrchardBees]

They are so aromatic too

Yes, but en masse it's a bit overpowering. Rather reminiscent of burning plastic!

 

[Amari]

Yes, but en masse it's a bit overpowering. Rather reminiscent of burning plastic!

That's the last analogy I'd apply. Sarcococca must be the most scented species on earth. No need to go near, the scent wafts several feet away.

 

[drdrday]

Mine are going beserk on a 40ft Sarcococca hedge (white pollen = pretty white faces). The noise was incredible!

My aunt dropped off a few sarcococca suckers that she'd dug out of her garden for me. I planted them this morning next to a nuc. They're barely a foot high, but before I'd even put the spade away there were two bees on them

 

[charlievictorbravo]

Strange, Alexanders grow pofusely along the verges here and I've never seen a bee on them. I'll have to look more closely when they flower.

I took the photo two days ago - when the sun shone briefly - you can just make out the pale pollen in her pollen baskets. She's sharing the Alexanders flowers with some flies. CVB

 

[user 819]

Mine are going beserk on a 40ft Sarcococca hedge (white pollen = pretty white faces). The noise was incredible!

A pic of the hedge would be nice, I have a wooden fence bordering next doors garden and it rots because the old boy stacks rubbish against it. so need something nice to put in it's place instead.

 

[The Poot]

A pic of the hedge would be nice, I have a wooden fence bordering next doors garden and it rots because the old boy stacks rubbish against it. so need something nice to put in it's place instead.

Electric fencing?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

wasp nest?

 

[beeno]

Mine are going beserk on a 40ft Sarcococca hedge (white pollen = pretty white faces). The noise was incredible!

Very pretty, but sadly I am allergic to fragrances.

 

[Curly green finger's]

You forgot one of these #
Edit : it was meant for apple.

 

[Lizbee]

Winter honeysuckle is a real hit in my garden in Kent. I want to take some cuttings this year and see if I can grow a few more. The smell is amazing. Also hellebores but not much else in flower I don't think. Some daffodils about to open, but will have to wait a while for my favourite variety - Winston Churchill - which has a beautiful scent.

 

[Cefn Eithaf]

They are working Scillia in my garden. Great early flowing bulbs for pollen and nectar. Very early flowering and incredibly hardy.

 

[OrchardBees]

That's the last analogy I'd apply. Sarcococca must be the most scented species on earth. No need to go near, the scent wafts several feet away.

I agree, it's fantastic. At a distance, when you just catch a hint of it, but this quantity, under your windows, can be too much.

A pic of the hedge would be nice, I have a wooden fence bordering next doors garden and it rots because the old boy stacks rubbish against it. so need something nice to put in it's place instead.

Ignore the mess! It's a good hedge; evergreen, bushy, fast-growing. This one is cut twice a year to contain it. It's starting to go over now. You can see all the white petals on the ground.

 

[Parsonage Bees]

Sunny 17degC. Snowdrops will be over and turning brown by 3pm at this rate.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I agree, it's fantastic. At a distance, when you just catch a hint of it, but this quantity, under your windows, can be too much.


Ignore the mess! It's a good hedge; evergreen, bushy, fast-growing. This one is cut twice a year to contain it. It's starting to go over now. You can see all the white petals on the ground.

I bet the scent from the Xmas box is lovely.

 

[StephenT]

The ornamental cherry trees in the street have started to blossom and the bees are on them. Can see them from my home office window

 

[masterBK]

Bees still working Hellebores. They are one of the few plants (along with crocus) the bees from the hives in my garden actually bother with at this time of year. I also have lots of snowdrops,daffs and Daphne flowers out but not seen a bee on them yet this year.

 

[user 819]

Thanks OrchardBees, looks good. May have to seriously consider planting some, quick growing is ideal and my fence line is well sheltered and shaded.
Any strong aroma shouldn't be an issue as the hedge will be some 80 ft down the garden.