What blooms where and when

[Lburou]

We have Texas Sage, Broom Weed and Elaeagnus in full bloom here this week.  Into the 50's at night. Other shrubs blooming and ignored by honey bees are butterfly bush and abelia.  Have seen constant flow of butterflies visiting abelias.  No monarchs for two or three weeks Jack. A frontal passage with forecast winds to 40 mph today will move the monarchs through very quickly.

Bees are BUSY!  As much traffic at the hive entrance as I've seen this season.  Mature hives have stored another deep super (some more, some less) since first week in October.  A lot of yellow pollen for larvae, brood nests have contracted by 25-30% only.   Thing is, broom weed honey tastes real bad... So, this year, the bees will go into winter with large honey reserves. 

[Lburou]

This plant came from one of those soil builder seed mixes...a lot of seed if anyone is interested.

Two things Lazy, does the soil builder seed mix have a list of seeds in the mix?  I would take you up on those seeds, we'll get together sometime. 

[brooksbeefarm]

Lburou, we have what the old timers call bitter weed that makes bad tasting honey. Well two years ago we had our annual honey tasting contest at our bee club, i took a pint of good honey and a pint of bitter weed honey and they give you a sticker to put your initial on the bottom of the jar Some how our club presidents initials got put on the bad honey jar and he couldn't be there that meeting. Some members made a bad face, some spit it in the waste basket, and some said it wasn't bad? He has never said a word about it but i know he waiting for a clue. Jack
PS. we had our honey tasting contest again llast month and it never came up?

[Lburou]

...That is funny!   

And, you planted a seed...

[Bakersdozen]

Aromatic and Heath asters still blooming.  Honey bees are bringing in a bright red pollen. 

[Bakersdozen]

I am still seeing small patches of dutch clover blooming with this unusually warm fall weather.  While at work yesterday, I observed a honey bee on one of those patches.  She, along with several small butterflies, were on a sunny, south facing slope.  At this time I am sure it was the only nectar available.

[lazy shooter]

This plant came from one of those soil builder seed mixes.  It is 10 feet tall and has a bloom that resembles a pea bloom.  The bees love it.  It is going to make a lot of seed if anyone is interested.  It is in full bloom at this moment, maybe a bit past the full bloom as I see some seeds developing.  The seed pods look like a short pea seed.

lazy






The name of the above plant is sun hemp.

[Bakersdozen]

Thanks for letting us know the name of the plant, lazy.
I noticed some wild asters and goldenrod blooming along the side of the road this afternoon. 
They are calling for a freeze tomorrow night so I just dug up the rhizomes to my Dahlias. They just really started to bloom well for the first time.

I don't usually bother with storing them overwinter, but I thought these were quite eye catching.

[Wandering Man]

Bottlebrush is blooming again in our area (Victoria, Texas).  It was blooming the end of April.






I almost forgot.  I have a question.

Does bottlebrush provide nectar, pollen, or both?

Thanks.

[lazy shooter]

I know turnip greens don't bloom until next spring, but here's about 40 acres of them.

This nice Brangus girl will do her best to eat the turnips to the ground before they bloom.  She and about 26 more of her compadres.  These turnips are about 14-inches high and growing.


lazy

[Wandering Man]

Bottlebrush is blooming again in our area (Victoria, Texas).  It was blooming the end of April.






I almost forgot.  I have a question.

Does bottlebrush provide nectar, pollen, or both?

Thanks.

I've spent some time watching the bees (not through the lens), and figured out they are sucking nectar out of the bottle brush. It's hard to see how, since the buds are so small.

[neillsayers]

Warm and sunny today. Bees are bring in pale yellow pollen. What could be blooming in January?

[Perry]

Sawdust if someone is cutting wood nearby.

[neillsayers]

Sawdust if someone is cutting wood nearby.

Good one Perry!

[neillsayers]

Think it could be witch hazel. I'll walk the creek tomorrow to see.

[CBT]

They will work a sawdust pile.

[MarkCase]

They will work a sawdust pile.

why would they work a sawdust pile?  Are they looking for protein in the sawdust?

[Wandering Man]

They will work a sawdust pile.

why would they work a sawdust pile?  Are they looking for protein in the sawdust?

Carpenter bees?

[Perry]

I think it is more out of desperation than anything. I am not quite sure why they do it (seen it myself), maybe there is a bit of moisture or perhaps propolis to be had?

[Bakersdozen]

Warm and sunny today. Bees are bring in pale yellow pollen. What could be blooming in January?

And now for something entirely different.   
 
I have seen my bees bringing in pollen on a winter day.  What I have seen is a dark orange colored pollen.  Nothing in bloom, but they find faded blooms that are still standing.  I don't know if it's nutritious.  I have read that they prefer bringing in pollen over utilizing stored pollen.
Anyway Neil, I would say that was a good sign that all is right in the colony.  It's also a good reason for not cutting down faded perennials in the fall.  Native bees use the stems of some perennials and natives to nest in during the winter months too.

Could something be in bloom that offers yellow pollen?  Witch Hazel, Hellebore, crocus, and willow are possibilities in your area.  We usually don't see anything now but Hellebores.  ( Writers note:  The website censored the name of the willow variety.  I will say it is the bush type with catkins.)