What's flowering as forage in your area

[Monbees]

The winter-flowering honeysuckle, beautiful perfume and beloved by bees, has been flowering for nearly a month here on the Monmouthshire/Herefordshire border, but due to cold/damp/wet weather bees have been unable to take advantage. Just an occasional bee or two once in a while - such a waste of an excellent nectar source.

 

[enrico]

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?

Yes I have one. Gave us almonds last year in Somerset!
E

 

[monarda]

A few much appreciated rays of sunshine here today and have seen the odd honey bee foraging on Winter Cherry,Gorse,Witch Hazel and Hellebore.

 

[enrico]

The first crocii are open 1 yellow and the rest purple! A flurry of snowdrops now too.

 

[thedozzer]

The first crocii are open 1 yellow and the rest purple! A flurry of snowdrops now too.

Snow drops have been out for a few weeks here, saw a carpet of them just opening at Audley End House 3 weeks back!! but it has been stupidly warm here.

Three is a big clump of Daffodils down the road on the verge too.
Both hives have been brining back a lot of yellow and orange pollen at the moment, they don't think its winter.
was 16c the other day and sunny, if it gets much warmer will have to start inspections soon.

 

[Amari]

Snow drops have been out for a few weeks here, saw a carpet of them just opening at Audley End House 3 weeks back!! but it has been stupidly warm here.

Three is a big clump of Daffodils down the road on the verge too.
Both hives have been brining back a lot of yellow and orange pollen at the moment, they don't think its winter.
was 16c the other day and sunny, if it gets much warmer will have to start inspections soon.

Strange! Essex is adjacent to Suffolk but I've not seen any pollen collection by my bees in my three apiaries. Max temps 11C but very little sun.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Bees out collecting pollen from the snowdrops today
Overcast and 12 degrees

 

[thedozzer]

Strange! Essex is adjacent to Suffolk but I've not seen any pollen collection by my bees in my three apiaries. Max temps 11C but very little sun.

Bees have been bringing in the pollen since first week of Jan, not sure they ever stopped?
There are quite a few flowers out at the moment, lots of gorse, snow drops, Sarcococca (not sure the bees like it?) Winter Jasmine, Witch hazel, viburnums, and a weird clump of daffodils in Rivenhall near Witham!!
The inspection boards have the occasional lump of yellow or cream coloured pollen on them, amongst the cappings.

 

[Fritillary]

2 days ago, at a garden full of snowdrops - only a couple of bees to be seen outside their hives though, in the sunshine and cold wind.
Yesterday by contrast, mild and calm here at home, it looked like a June day at the entrances of my hives! Apart from winter honeysuckle, I don't know if there was anything much for them though.

 

[drdrday]

My bees are out and about today and returning with plenty of what looks like crocus pollen. There are certainly a few patches of crocuses and snowdrops around, although I haven't seen a daffodil yet.
Through my first winter I've been amazed to see the bees flying on and off throughout the last couple of months, even on Christmas day and managing to find something to forage on.

 

[Horseradish]

Had a quick walk around my North Cambridge town and all I saw was a small clump (10) of Snowdrops. Nothing else. My bees are out and about in numbers, but coming back with nothing.

 

[Ian123]

Sunny Surrey/Berks boarder and blackthorn starting to show in a few patches along the roads

 

[Popparand]

Sunshine and double figure temperatures here but a chilly little wind keeping temperatures down. Plenty of bee activity though mainly orientation flights. Snowdrops and aconites in full bloom. Also daffodils but I can't see any pollen or nectar going in.

 

[Amari]

Ah, first pollen of the season entering most hives but tiny loads - difficult to see. Weather as above.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Things are too early here
Species crocus are all through and open in the windy sunshine.
The apiary crocuses are well up too
I have a willow by the pond that usually flowers at the end of March before the rest of the Goat Willow. That looks as if it’s not far off opening. Just in time for the cold weather to come. Bonkers!

 

[E&MBees]

Winter flowering honeysuckle is still going strong as is the Viburnum. They have been joined by snowdrops. Some early Anemone blanda are also in flower. No daffs yet.

 

[Popparand]

Ah, first pollen of the season entering most hives but tiny loads - difficult to see. Weather as above.

Ah, so that's what they are doing. I thought I saw something that looked like a trace of pollen....….your eyesight obviously better than mine!

 

[gmonag]

All my bees flying today and bringing in pollen.
We have snowdrops and aconites out here too and I found bees on early flowering cherry.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Crocus are out here but I've not seen bees flying since Christmas .
I'm at present having a sort out for the season!

 

[Heather]

My bees on cherry prunus, as 10c here and most hives venturing forth. Interesting the different behaviours, as the quieter ones are fine and thriving, just waiting for more warmth.. southern softies.