Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Riverrat on March 23, 2015, 08:42:08 pm

Title: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: Riverrat on March 23, 2015, 08:42:08 pm
We have an earlier than usual bloom on the Bradford pear trees this year.  No dandelions blooming but henbit is kicking in.  Anyhow I have never seen bees in this area work the Bradford pear bloom until today.   I walked out to get in the truck and heard buzzing.  My first thought was an early swarm off one of my hives.  After a little looking around it was bees working the pear bloom next to the truck.  caught me by surprise.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: tbonekel on March 23, 2015, 08:56:56 pm
Those trees are just finishing up here. They started about a week ago and yes, the bees were all over them.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: barry42001 on March 24, 2015, 12:38:50 am
;D
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: barry42001 on March 24, 2015, 12:41:08 am
So much in bloom down here, most all trees are either in bloom or preparing to bloom. We just caught a very heavy rainstorm, this will push everything to bloom.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: kebee on March 24, 2015, 07:24:24 am
 For some reason my bees are working the flowers in the yard and all the trees that are in the yard, either the necater is scare or they are getting lazy for they have not done that before.

Ken
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: Bakersdozen on March 24, 2015, 08:33:27 am
We have an earlier than usual bloom on the Bradford pear trees this year.  No dandelions blooming

Same here riverrat!  The Bradfords opened up yesterday.  I wrote down what I saw yesterday, it was such a gorgeous day.  Bradfords, apple tree, tulip tree, forsythia and daffodils.  I didn't see any henbit yet.

Does anyone know when a willow tree actually blooms?  They are starting to leaf out here.  Do they bloom prior to leafing out?  Keeping good records is one of my goals this year in beekeeping.  So I am trying to include bloom data in my records. 


(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs24.postimg.cc%2F8ffmfsdlt%2F20150323_110927_resized.jpg&hash=e820d4ed27658e8c5c647755d4965031b8b98a56) (http://postimg.cc/image/8ffmfsdlt/)
This is the old school system I am using.  No chance of misplacing that recipe box!
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: rwlaw on March 24, 2015, 09:16:45 am
Our weeping willows come in after the cat willows. I have never seen the bees hit the weepers hard (maybe because the dandelions are going by then), but they'll be all over the cat willows.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: rwlaw on March 24, 2015, 09:32:03 am
Seems like I been censored LOL! p-u-s-s-y willow is the actual name.
 
Thanx riverbee, I'm a knuckle dragger when it comes to that stuff.
https://youtu.be/NL7uXOQNkOE
Have a patch of winter aconite at my main yard, it'll bloom thru a snow bank if it needs to. Always sit there for a while and listen. After the gloom of winter, huge boot in the butt.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: riverbee on March 24, 2015, 10:37:49 am
rw, in order to post a video, it has to be uploaded to you tube first. then copy and paste the code in the body of your reply, when you preview your reply, you will be able to see the video before you hit the post button. ;)
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: Slowmodem on March 25, 2015, 01:52:17 pm
According to Weather Underground, our pollen count is high and is mainly Cedar/Juniper, Maple and Alder.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: Bakersdozen on March 26, 2015, 07:23:42 pm
Wow! rwlaw.  Thanks for posting the video.  I wonder if that stuff grows here.  I don't recall ever hearing of it before.
Henbit starting blooming here today.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: rwlaw on March 26, 2015, 09:32:25 pm
Good to hear bout the hen bit, hopefully we'll see it in a couple weeks. The silver maple buds look like they're gonna bust their britches, looks like they'll be about the same time.  :eusa_dance: :eusa_dance:
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: Bakersdozen on March 27, 2015, 02:47:58 am
The Bradford Pears are popping like crazy around here.  I think everything is going to open at once and they are calling for a rain/snow mix today.
rwlaw, I looked up winter aconite and the botanical name is Eranthis.  It's a bulb that blooms late winter before crocus.  It requires a consistently moist well drained soil, which could be a problem here.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: rwlaw on March 27, 2015, 08:32:38 am

Thanx BD, I know you can buy bulbs of it. That patch of it is at the parents old place in a rock garden, sure is a sight when they pop up thru a snowbank. I tried some starts at my place along a brick wall and it comes up but doesn't spread like at the original spot.
One thing to note, it is poisonous to poeple and pets, not deadly but "severe gastric distress". Never had had a problem with it tho. There's always been bees on it, ferals or mine.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: brooksbeefarm on March 27, 2015, 09:05:15 am
Maples and Willows here, the Bradford pears are trying to bud out, seeing a Dandelion every now and then. 8)The temps. have went back down in the 40's daytime and 20's night time for the last two days. I guess i'm the sweetest thing around O:-) the bees buzz me everywhere i go. :D Jack
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: Riverrat on March 27, 2015, 09:39:17 am
I finally seen some dandelions yesterday.  Bees was working over an old honey bucket hard in the afternoon. With the cold front not sure what will be left to bloom the next few days.  Redbud was looking like it was about to pop open. 

Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: Slowmodem on March 27, 2015, 10:47:22 pm
I finally seen some dandelions yesterday.  Bees was working over an old honey bucket hard in the afternoon. With the cold front not sure what will be left to bloom the next few days.  Redbud was looking like it was about to pop open.

I saw the first dandelions Wednesday.
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: ShepherdsWatchFarm on March 28, 2015, 09:50:06 am
Three weeks ago my bees were working the snow lol!
Title: Re: bees working Bradford Pear bloom
Post by: riverbee on March 28, 2015, 05:38:58 pm
lol ed.........mine too.......... :D