Worldwide Beekeeping

Worldwide Beekeeping Resource Library => Honey, Bee Forage; Nectar & Pollen Sources => Topic started by: Nugget Shooter on February 20, 2017, 09:39:22 am

Title: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on February 20, 2017, 09:39:22 am
This is a spring like most of us in Arizona's Sonoran Desert have never seen and the ground that is normally covered in sparse growth in this time of year is almost totally covered in plants of many species and will bloom with a once in 100 years show, some we have never seen before. I will try to get as many pictures as I can of this event and will post them in this thread for you all. Today's photos are from yesterday from Lake Pleasant near (20 miles) my home and trust me this is not normal to see this type ground cover here and I am amazed by it..... I have no idea what to expect, but will share it with you all as it progresses and this should be quite a year for Arizona Honeybees.


(https://s2.postimg.cc/3qklaph45/IMG_0125.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/3qklaph45/)

(https://s8.postimg.cc/5cwi9563l/IMG_0127.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5cwi9563l/)

(https://s9.postimg.cc/edzz88y8b/IMG_0126.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/edzz88y8b/)

(https://s17.postimg.cc/cad9mvzez/IMG_0133.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/cad9mvzez/)
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: riverbee on February 20, 2017, 10:51:24 am
 :photos:

Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Zweefer on February 20, 2017, 11:35:50 am
Very nice!  Hope it translates to a bumper year for you!
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: vvand111 on February 20, 2017, 12:21:07 pm
Never seen a desert like that. Thanks Nugget
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Perry on February 20, 2017, 02:16:38 pm
BEAUTIFUL!
It looks surreal. One does not expect to see cactus of that variety with what looks like Grass all around (I know it's not grass).
1 in 100 years? Take lots of pics. :yes:
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: efmesch on February 20, 2017, 03:35:56 pm
Nugget, being all too familiar with desert landscape from Israel's Negev desert, (which begins not far from my home     and with two of my sons living in the Negev),  I can only add my open mouthed amazement when looking at the pictures you've shared with us.  Your bees are going to be overworked with all the flowers that have yet to bloom from  that greenery.
Expect a real bumper crop.  And please keep taking more pictures.  I expect so see a variety of colors showing up as the season moves on.
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on February 20, 2017, 04:12:31 pm
These are a big part of the "carpet" especially in recently disturbed ground and the bees appear use it.... Blue Phacelia (Phacelia distans)


(https://s9.postimg.cc/ud0k6abvf/Blue_Phacelia_Phacelia_distans.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ud0k6abvf/)
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on February 20, 2017, 04:17:27 pm
Also very common... Fiddle Neck (Aminckia menziesii)


(https://s16.postimg.cc/5k1eko7sh/Fiddle_Neck_Aminckia_menziesii.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5k1eko7sh/)


(https://s2.postimg.cc/gpjh6xgo5/IMG_0157.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/gpjh6xgo5/)


(https://s1.postimg.cc/vjx3dg317/IMG_0158.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/vjx3dg317/)
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Wandering Man on February 20, 2017, 11:27:46 pm
Really nice.

Thank you.
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Countryboyky on February 21, 2017, 06:50:26 am
Very cool pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on February 21, 2017, 08:55:13 am
Lupinus arizonicus, Arizona Lupine




(https://s23.postimg.cc/5rtmugq1z/IMG_0169.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5rtmugq1z/)

(https://s23.postimg.cc/d92u9ofl3/IMG_0170.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/d92u9ofl3/)


Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on February 21, 2017, 09:01:29 am
Sphaeralcea ambigua, Desert Globemallow


(https://s14.postimg.cc/6rtmv3xa5/IMG_0163.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/6rtmv3xa5/)

(https://s14.postimg.cc/p8o1lxd8d/IMG_0164.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/p8o1lxd8d/)

(https://s14.postimg.cc/nuweqmdz1/IMG_0165.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/nuweqmdz1/)
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Perry on February 21, 2017, 09:47:19 am
Bee Buffet!
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: efmesch on February 21, 2017, 12:27:00 pm
The rainbow of colors is filling in.  Just beautiful.

I'm duly impressed with your proper use of taxonomic rules of protocol:  genus spelled with a capital letter, species starting with a lower caste letter.  Not too  many people do that correctly.  For that matter, not too many people "trouble" themselves to provide the scientific name.
Thanks and Congrats!
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Chip Euliss on February 21, 2017, 01:46:15 pm
Nice pics Nugget.  Keep thinking about taking my bees there after almonds to do my early splits but haven't taken the plunge yet.  I have a good friend with a 15,000 acre ranch south of you.  I need to see when the quail season ends before I make that decision ;D
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on February 21, 2017, 08:00:26 pm
Thanks and much appreciated efmesch  and it comes from my parents  ;) My father is an Ornithologist and my mother was a teacher of teachers . Part of earning my allowance was species identification and it stuck  :laugh: 

Chip, https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/regulations/ (https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/regulations/)
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: vvand111 on February 21, 2017, 09:37:11 pm
Really nice nugget  great to see   keep the pics coming  what a wonderful world  I really appreciate it!!
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: CBT on February 21, 2017, 10:12:21 pm
Time to buy more supers :yes: :yes:
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on February 22, 2017, 09:13:26 am
I am building, building, building, have a bunch of mediums done and building some deeps to add to hives with only a single deep currently. Have already added supers to 4 of the 6 and the late November Swarm I boxed up last fall is already 5 frames used and will need a deep super soon, I run all 2 deeps except Tammy's hive which is one deep with mediums....
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on March 13, 2017, 06:45:12 pm

(https://s16.postimg.cc/a15frxdtd/lsd.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/a15frxdtd/)
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on March 13, 2017, 06:51:07 pm

(https://s3.postimg.cc/3tn9obrfz/lsd2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/3tn9obrfz/)
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Wandering Man on March 13, 2017, 07:19:34 pm
Wow!  Those are awesome pics!

I hope we get to see some that beauty in person.

Doesn't look like we will make it all the way out to Lake Pleasant, though.  We've got some family matters to take care of on the East side of Graham Mountain.
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Perry on March 13, 2017, 09:13:30 pm
That is something a person might only get to see a few times in one's life. Almost worth plane ticket.
Thanks for sharing these with us, I am green with envy!
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: cpekarek on March 14, 2017, 08:41:18 am
Very, very nice. Thanks
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Bakersdozen on March 14, 2017, 10:12:46 am
Wow!  That's a photographer's dream come true.
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: efmesch on March 14, 2017, 11:00:24 am
BREATHTAKING!!
Those pictures make me wish I were a honeybee in the Sonoran Desert.  :bee: :bee: :bee:
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Jen on March 14, 2017, 01:31:42 pm
Wow! That pic with the yellow and purple carpet is just stunning. Nug... You are gonna be on your toes this season. And bee prepared to send out some little jars of desert honey to those of us who want one. PICK ME! PICK ME!!  :D
Title: Re: 2017 Sonoran Desert spring.....
Post by: Nugget Shooter on March 14, 2017, 06:13:15 pm
Wow! That pic with the yellow and purple carpet is just stunning. Nug... You are gonna be on your toes this season. And bee prepared to send out some little jars of desert honey to those of us who want one. PICK ME! PICK ME!!  :D

 :)