Queen Anne's Lace

[Pond Creek Farm]

My fields are loaded with the white flat-topped blooms of Queen Anne's Lace.  Do these blooms provide a necatar flow that the bees will use?

[Ross]

Not that I can tell.  I have a bunch and never see a bee on them.

[Pond Creek Farm]

Does it make any sense then to overseed my fields with plants that bees will use?  I ahve about fifteen acres of usable space with the rest being in forest.  I do not use the land for anything other than training my dogs, so the flora is really not important: any will do.  Do those of you with acreage plant for bees?

[MrILoveTheAnts]

I have seen only 1 honey bee this year working a carrot flower. After that, nothing else. Mostly hover flies, assorted ants and beetles.

I don't really have acreage to talk of but I certainly plant for my bees. Even the few mint plants, mostly weeds, I have seem to effect the honey I have. When harvesting I actually found a patch of light colored honey on a frame that tasted like mint. Of course it's drown out when mixed with everything else they harvested.

Borage, Cosmos, Poppies, Dahlias, Cone flowers, Sunflowers, Clover are all nice plants to have. Not all are appropriate for cover crops but they're all easily found in most nurseries.

[Kathyp]

i am liking the buckwheat.  the bees are all over it!  it is cheaper than white clover.  it is also doing well with our suddenly hot and dry conditions.  no rain to speak of for a month and it is still blooming.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

i am liking the buckwheat.  the bees are all over it!  it is cheaper than white clover.  it is also doing well with our suddenly hot and dry conditions.  no rain to speak of for a month and it is still blooming.

Doesn't Buckwheat have a problem after two years? I thought something happened if you don't harvest it doesn't it spread or something?

[randydrivesabus]

buckwheat reseeds itself readily so if you don't mow it before it goes to seed it will regrow.

[DaveKow]

How late can you plant buckwheat?  In Ohio.

Thanks.

[Cindi]

Brian, if you want some easy crop to grow on those 15 acres and don't care if they self seed. These are plants that I would sow.  I have some very large areas sown with these crops several years ago.  I gather the seed and spread it other places on my property.  These plants I will tell you about will set flowers about 6 weeks after germination of the seed.  Once you have these plants they will be yours forever more.  They self-seed themselves prolifically and are excellent cover crops.  Do a search on these plants in our forum, you will see threads with pictures.

Firstly, Phacelia Tanacetifolia
Borage officinalis
Buckwheat

All three are fast growing, fast flowering and will take an awful lot of drought-like conditions.  The bees cover these plants and provide amazing nectar and pollen.  They can be sown a couple of times during a growing season to keep the blooms constant.  So, these are my main suggestions if you want to have large areas, sown very cheaply with seed.

Good luck to find what you will to sow on the land.  Beautiful and most wonderful day, love our great lives we are all living and sharin'.  Cindi

[Keith13]

Will buckwheat grow in the south what are the hardiness zones

Keith

[lovelyembalmer]

Queen Ann's Lace may not be a bee flower, but it sure works for Kidney Stones.  Dry it and when you feel like an attack is coming on, make a strong tea and drink.  It disolves the stones.