I agree with you there. My bees are NEVER in our yard, although woodsy, full of clover, apple trees, wifes perrenials, liliacs, etc, and not at the apple orchard a mile away, or the goldenrod field 1/4 mi. away, but at a commercial herb farm almost 4 miles away!! They dont build up honey very fast, but seem happy and thriving....certainly frustrating to the beekeeper!!
Also, they dont use the birdbaths too often which I put right in front of their hives for drinking, but a stream about 1/4 mile down through the woods. WEIRD!! :?