Clover in full bloom, not one bee

[BeeMaster2]

Clover is in full bloom and there are no bees  of any kind on it. The yard smells of heavy clover. I thought that the smell would come from the nectar.
What going on?
Jim Altmiller

[Hops Brewster]

Something more attractive in bloom in the neighborhood?  In the trees perhaps.

[Ben Framed]

Something more attractive in bloom in the neighborhood?  In the trees perhaps.

Most likely. Nice stand of clover 🍀 Jim

[Brian MCquilkin]

Clover is in full bloom and there are no bees  of any kind on it. The yard smells of heavy clover. I thought that the smell would come from the nectar.
What going on?
Jim Altmiller

Seen this often when the bees are working on something else, they will move on to the clover after they have finished.
Also seen them work clover at different times of the day, some times in the morning or later in the day. Just because we can see it or smell it doesn't mean it's producing nectar

[BeeMaster2]

What is really surprising to me is that there are no pollinators on it, not just honey bees.
Jim Altmiller

[cao]

Last year I noticed that it was a week or two after the clover started blooming before I saw honeybees working it.  I usually only mow part of my lawn each week to allow some of the clover to be in full bloom all the time. 

[BeeMaster2]

Cap,
This is the first full week in full bloom so we will see.
We don?t cut the grass until the grass gets pretty high and my wife can?t stand it. Then we cut it and feed it to the cows.
Jim Altmiller

[TheHoneyPump]

What time of the day were you looking through the clover?  Clover does not begin to yield until mid afternoon with some heat.  It also needs cool damp evenings to draw enough moisture.  It is a very high yielding plant which the bees go absolutely bonkers over.  But ... not until later in the day.

A possibility is if it has been sprayed or rolled with herbicide/pesticide. The smell of chems tends to keep the bees away.

[Acebird]

Not sure what happens down here but up north if you mow it (and feed to the cows) it will flower closer to the ground.  Might make Judy happier.

[BeeMaster2]

THP,
Thanks for the information. Nice field of clover. This is in our yard so there is definitely no pesticides or herbicides.
We have had warm afternoons and cool nights but still no bees.
I?m used to hearing a loud buzz when they use it. Two days ago my bee boxes that are outside under the barn were all buzzing with bees but nothing on the clover.
Jim Altmiller

[Bill Murray]

Jim, you have huge amounts nectar coming in?

[BeeMaster2]

Not yet, I?m still feeding them.
Jim Altmiller

[van from Arkansas]

Not yet, I?m still feeding them.
Jim Altmiller

Your feeding, in Florida, in late March?  This sounds odd to me, but what do I know?  BTW, why feed when clover is blooming?

Jim, my bees are loaded with pollen or nectar and I am N Arkansas.  There is so much blooming in my area the bees take the favorite flower, as many texted above.  HP is correct, flowers are specific to time intervals regarding nectar and pollen production: some flowers max in AM, some PM and the bees know the correct time.

Nice plush green yard, Jim.

HP, your clover field is the envy of my eye.  What more could a beek want?

Best to all.

[BeeMaster2]

Van,
I live in Osceola National Forest. It was and is a pine tree tree farm. For the most part it is Pine Trees, Gallberries, Palmetto, and in the swamps Black Gum. Other than that it is pretty sterile. Our ag center/Environmentalists are even pushing to get native pines replanted because most of the pines are Slash Pines. They are not native. The few other flowers that grow here, for the most part the bees do not visit. After June, my bees are living on stored honey mostly.
Jim Altmiller 

[Lkbee]

Have you found the reason?

[BeeMaster2]

Not really and the bees and pollinators still are not using my clover.
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

Jim are your pastures covered in clover 🍀 also?

[guitarstitch]

Temperatures have been pretty cool, but should start warming up today and throughout next week.  Check your clover around noon today.

It's ironic that you made this post.  My fianc? was struggling to understand why I was so giddy seeing a few white buds of clover popping up on our property, then I described the massive clover patches you have going on in your yard and how you actually cultivate what many consider a weed.

[van from Arkansas]

Van,
I live in Osceola National Forest. It was and is a pine tree tree farm. For the most part it is Pine Trees, Gallberries, Palmetto, and in the swamps Black Gum. Other than that it is pretty sterile. Our ag center/Environmentalists are even pushing to get native pines replanted because most of the pines are Slash Pines. They are not native. The few other flowers that grow here, for the most part the bees do not visit. After June, my bees are living on stored honey mostly.
Jim Altmiller

Ok, now I understand, about feeding in March in Florida  thank you Jim.  Now, back to the clover void of pollinators???

Van

[BeeMaster2]

Jim are your pastures covered in clover 🍀 also?

No, I planted a lot of clover several years ago in several fields and most of it did not grow. I planted a lot of clover in my yard and now it is starting to spread to the fields. My wife feeds lawn clippings to the cows and they plant it in the fields. They also eat it to the ground.
Jim Altmiller