THE FLOW

[AndersMNelson]

Does anyone know about nectar flows that occur in my region?  I don't get home to my hive from school until next weekend, so what have I been missing?

[AllanJ]

The berries and poplar are about to bloom..

http://www.ento.vt.edu/~fell/apiculture/HoneyPlants/flower.htm

[AndersMNelson]

O that's a good site to know.  Thanks!

[MarkR]

That's a great site.  I've bookmarked it.

I'm just up the road from AlanJ (okay about 30-40 miles, but you know what I mean), but a little higher up, elevation-wise.  The poplars are just about to go any minute now.  I was checking my berries last night.  It might be another week or so before they go.

Mark

[AllanJ]

I have a ton of Honeysuckle which does not show any signs of blooming.. and I also have a lot of American Holly.. going to keep good records so I know better next year. 

[Jerrymac]

Honeysuckle  :?

Can bees get to the nectar of honeysuckle?

[Mici]

haven't noticed any, although it was late when i watched, but the "neck" of the flower seems to long for a bee. but you just gotta love the intense smell of it!

[AndersMNelson]

I like pulling out the style of the honeysuckle and tasting the nectar: sweet and delicious. :-P

[AllanJ]

It depends on the type..  mine are all Japanese honeysuckle which is worked by the bees. The flower is smaller than the other types.

[Brian D. Bray]

My Japanese Honeysuckle is just starting to bud flowers, full flowering is probably a week or 2 away.  The Lilacs on the other hand are just starting to burst out all over.  I planted 4 butterfly bushes and a self pollenating peach tree this week.  I now have 16 fruit trees to go with the 100 flowering fruit trees next door.  Next year should be an early bonanza for my bees.  Over 300 fruit trees with a quart mile radius and lots of maple and alder in the 1500 acres of forest lands that start a block to the south.  The 300 fruit trees are those in peoples yards, I'm not counting the wild cherry and apple trees in the woods.
The filberts will take a few more years to develop as they are only 8 inch shoots at the moment so I don't count them amoung my fruit tress.  Bees love filbert (Hazlenut).