What's flowering as forage in your area

[Nannysbees]

Spectacular tree in work, can someone identify please

 

[Erichalfbee]

Bird cherry?
Does it smell?

 

[Nannysbees]

Bird cherry?
Does it smell?

Yes beautiful fragrance

 

[Paulypaul]

My wife borrowed the book "Planting for honeybees" from the local library.
An interesting table of the alleged best flowering plants for bees, by month of bloom.



On another table, they list a type of Clematis "Clematis cirrhosa Evergreen Clematis" as flowering from December to February. Does anyone have experience of bee forage on that one? I ask as some of my colonies will forage throughout the winter.

 

[E&MBees]

I have a Clematis Cirrhosa, Wisley Cream. It’s not near my bees, but it is visited by bees and bumbles. Beautiful flowers, uplifting when there isn’t much else around.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/95824/clematis-cirrhosa-wisley-cream-(c)/details

 

[emoclewbee]

Apples well and truly out here in Cork.
Haven't seen any bees on them this year though

 

[simonwig]

Bird cherry?
Does it smell?

Agree, bird cherry.
Simon

 

[Newbeeneil]

I’m not sure if bees forage on cowslips but I couldn’t resist this picture.

My bees are behind me and the house is a station which was made defunct in the 1930’s so I’m standing on the old track ballast.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Watching bees on the red and white ericas on this dull and dank day!

 

[holmbee]

Bees are moving on from the crab apples, which have been superb this tear, to the orchard apples now coming into full flower. Lovely aroma with some varieties particularly Kidds Orange Red. Also hawthorn attracting interest - another distinct aroma. A little sun and out they come!

 

[Amari]

I’m not sure if bees forage on cowslips but I couldn’t resist this picture.
View attachment 39691
My bees are behind me and the house is a station which was made defunct in the 1930’s so I’m standing on the old track ballast.

Cowslips around here have been greatly increasing for the last few years so we have several grass road verges with quite thick carpets. Presumably they seed freely. The waxing and waning of plant and animal species is endlessly fascinating: gold finches are now our most numerous garden bird. Never see sparrows in our garden.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not flowering any more but still useful

 

[The Poot]

My Choisya is popular today (the sun is shining!) with the bees, waspy things, flies and bumbles.
The bumbles also on the comfrey next to it.

 

[Nannysbees]

Bird cherry arrived, now where to put it!!

 

[Steve7962]

Not quite in flower yet, but the field beans beside my apiary don’t appear too far off flowering, a couple of weeks tops maybe?

 

[Curly green finger's]

Does anyone know this plant please?

 

[Paulypaul]

Does anyone know this plant please?View attachment 39754

Alkanet. We have it all over this area of Surrey. Second only to blackberry in propensity.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Alkanet. We have it all over this area of Surrey. Second only to blackberry in propensity.

Thanks for that, first time I’ve seen bees on it .

 

[Newbeeneil]

Alkanet. We have it all over this area of Surrey. Second only to blackberry in propensity.

I agree, Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) very common in the south.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I agree, Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) very common in the south.

I’ve noticed the plant before but never seen bees on it, they were on a lot of perennials yesterday down by the river