crimson clover

[jb63]

They seem happy in 7 ac of crimson clover.After this I move them to blackberries.

[LazyBkpr]

Holy.......     clover...
   Now THATS what I am talking about!

[Jen]

Glory Bee! I could run through that like Dorothy and Toto ~ ~ ~

[blueblood]

That is some pretty clover!

[Perry]

 
Not sure about Crimson, but I have heard of bees starving in a field of Red clover. Their proboscis can't reach the nectar because of the tall spikes.
Awful pretty though!

[jb63]

Thx Perry.I heard that too about red clover,but mine have done well in it.They are bringing it in now though ,I added another honey super today.

[brooksbeefarm]

If the red clover has been cut for hay and blooms the second time the bees can work it (the spikes not so long the second bloom. My Dutch clover is the same way, although they can work the first bloom they like the second bloom better. I keep the Dutch clover in the yard and berry patch mowed and it keeps coming back (blooming) till frost. Jack

[jb63]

That's when I put bees in red clover,after the first cut,and after black berry flow.Then the second cut is combined for seed so hopefully they are doing some pollinating.Bumble bees are good pollinators too.

[Jen]

I love bumble bees, I haven't seen any this year tho. Usually there are many on my lilac bush.

[brooksbeefarm]

Bumble bees love red clover, i haven't seen many yet, but when the Catalpa trees bloom they will be all over them. Jack

[LazyBkpr]

I have bumbles all about the yard..  there was a day I wanted to run them off or kill them.. now I appreciate their deep hum and watch them with as much joy as I watch my own bees.

[brooksbeefarm]

There bad side is, if you get to close to their nest or disturb their nest, they will attack without mercy unlike honey bees they don't lose there stinger when they sting you and can do it over and over :'(. You can mow over them once in the hay field, but the second and third round is a different story. They had a nest under my uncles brush cutter, and when he went to hook it to the tractor ( not knowing they were there) he took over 260 stings. Never had one sting me when they are working flowers, but have got to close to there nest and paid for it. They will sometimes warn you if your getting to close to there nest by flying in front of you and zig zaging back and forth, just back up slowly and they won't attack. That's what i've learn from them, the hard way. Jack

[LazyBkpr]

  At a previous house, had a nest in a shed.. I knew they were there, but didnt really mind so I left them alone. They never bothered me, so I didn't bother them...  then one day I was pulling the lawn mower out of the shed, and they came after me...
   I spent the rest of the day cleaning the old shed out, and that afternoon burnt it to the ground..

   I like bumbles.. as long as they respect me I will respect them. But like honey bees, if they get mean one of us is going to die.

[riverbee]

awesome pix jb!  i am jealous!!!

[brooksbeefarm]

Jb, are those nucs on the back end of the flat bed, or hives you haven't put supers on yet? Jack

[jb63]

Good eye Jack.That's 2 good swarms in single deeps ,one nuc from a swarm trap,and one over wintered deep that never took off and I news paper combined it with one of the healthy swarms yesterday.Tonight I'm adding another nuc from a swarm  trap to the truck.Maybe sat. I'll put 2 more nucs out there.

[minz]

Was all pumped up when the neighbor put in clover, well we had a heat wave he cut it and bagged it. Hopefully it will bloom a second time.

[Bamabww]

Pretty field of crimson clover. I have about 6 acres but not as solid a stand as you have. My bees love it as do the bumblers.

[Gypsi]

I have strips of crimson clover where I can keep them watered.  Nothing like that. the bees like it.