Author Topic: What's blooming in southeastern US? (Read 3361 times)

Bob Wilson · « **on:** January 14, 2020, 06:03:13 pm »

It is an early year here in mid-Georgia. I am recording in my weekly calendar when everything begins blooming, but it seem atypical this year. Too early. Lorapetalum, white daffodils, thrift (prostrate phlox), dandilions, and rosemary. That was when, last year, I put out my bait trap nearby and caught my first colony.
Notice the beautiful white pollen she is going to bring into the hive.

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2020, 06:28:12 pm »

Nice pic, thanks Mr. Bob. One of those beautiful black or dark colored bees. Enjoy you warmth, gonna be 18F in a few days here, N. Arkansas.
Blessings

Add: I want a hive of those dark bees that I call Carniolan. Note the word carniolan I used in a general sense only to distinguish dark bees from the yellow stripe bees that I call Italian. I have seen hives full of the dark, black bees with a solid black queen that were so gentle and made the most beautiful comb. I am looking for a queen as described, black that produces described black gentle bees, eventually I?ll find one.

Ben Framed · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2020, 06:55:52 pm »

Quote from: van from Arkansas on January 14, 2020, 06:28:12 pm

Nice pic, thanks Mr. Bob. One of those beautiful black or dark colored bees. Enjoy you warmth, gonna be 18F in a few days here, N. Arkansas.
Blessings

Add: I want a hive of those dark bees that I call Carniolan. Note the word carniolan I used in a general sense only to distinguish dark bees from the yellow stripe bees that I call Italian. I have seen hives full of the dark, black bees with a solid black queen that were so gentle and made the most beautiful comb. I am looking for a queen as described, black that produces described black gentle bees, eventually I?ll find one.

Mr Van what you just described is just what I found in my cutouts. Very gentle, dark and outstanding producers, small, also very hardy to boot. I will try to remember to make a conscious effort to attempt to raise a batch of these and if any of the queens come in this color I happily send a couple to you.
Blessings,
Phillip

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2020, 07:23:21 pm »

I?ll personal message you, Mr. Ben.
Thanks

Ben Framed · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2020, 07:28:58 pm »

Quote from: van from Arkansas on January 14, 2020, 07:23:21 pm

I?ll personal message you, Mr. Ben.
Thanks

Yes Sir, you are welcome.

The15thMember · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2020, 09:20:50 pm »

I?ve seen a few plants popping up in my area too. It?s too early for that!

I?ve also seen a couple carpenter bees and it?s too early for them too. If things start hatching and blooming and we get a cold snap, it?s not going to be pretty.

Nock · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2020, 09:46:16 pm »

Seeing only dandelions here. Henbit is starting to come up. But like Van said we got some cold coming.

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2020, 10:20:13 pm »

Member, Nock, you are so correct.

Note; in just a few day?s.., At 18f for the low and 38F for the high, two consecutive days of cold, my hives will probably experience brood chill. How bad remains to be seen. I could insulate my hives, but unfortunately, in my case, I raise queens and must allow the weather to cull. Not all of my queens are laying, I noticed a few weeks ago the older queens were waiting to lay. Maybe I?ll get lucky and the laying queens only laid enough eggs to cover.

November, 1st week and 18F: colder than normal,

December: coldest day about 24F and much warmer than normal, Christmas Day 64F.

January: just cold as usual, cold front, then chinook, then cold front, again chinook....

Best to your bees.
Van

BAHBEEs · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2020, 10:52:26 am »

Henbit, that reliable early riser is up and my girls are hitting it hard. Dark orange almost burgundy pollen.

I haven't seen the plant but Yellow Rocket is likely the source of the much fewer bright yellow pollen sacs I see right now.

Near Huntsville Alabama. just had a long wet warmish spell, but cold is coming back.

Luckily Henbit can take it.

Barry

CapnChkn · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2020, 07:56:43 pm »

I'm also in Huntsville. I don't see any Henbit yet, but chickweed, and they're bringing in something white. Big baskets of it. I want to say it's Maple.

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2020, 11:09:58 pm »

I guess I am going to have to go walking, looking for bee activity, because I also don't see where they are getting the yellow pollen. How soon do holly and privet bloom?

Seeb · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2020, 08:55:32 am »

NC 27603 Henbit, Chickweed, and Rosemary January 2020

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2020, 10:47:47 pm »

My bees are bringing in major pollen right now, both light yellow and also this pale red wine colored pollen. Maybe from the henbit that is beginning to bloom? I never knew pollen came in such different colors. Besides henbit and leatherleaf mahonia blooming, I have a sweet tea olive (fragrans osmanthus) blooming It has a beautiful smell. Like wild honey.

Ben Framed · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2020, 11:24:41 pm »

My forecast is similar to Mr Vans. 25, 22, and 27f . Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night. I suppose this will put a halt on in-coming pollen?

yes2matt · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2020, 07:47:18 am »

Quote from: Bob Wilson on January 16, 2020, 10:47:47 pm

My bees are bringing in major pollen right now, both light yellow and also this pale red wine colored pollen. Maybe from the henbit that is beginning to bloom? I never knew pollen came in such different colors. Besides henbit and leatherleaf mahonia blooming, I have a sweet tea olive (fragrans osmanthus) blooming It has a beautiful smell. Like wild honey.

Deadnettle has red wine colored pollen.

In Charlotte NC have that coming in, henbit open, some red maples (dirty grey pollen) open, mahonia (oregon grape) blooming, camelia and hellebore.

At a farm there was a spruce pushing pollen, normally I think they are wind pollinated but had bees bringing in pollen that is the same color (pale yellow), so I suspect they're working those trees too.

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2020, 08:30:03 am »

Yes2matt. It is stuff like dead nettle that I do not even recognize that will keep me confused about when pollen or nectar is available.

Nock · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2020, 09:30:46 am »

Quote from: Ben Framed on January 16, 2020, 11:24:41 pm

My forecast is similar to Mr Vans. 25, 22, and 27f . Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night. I suppose this will put a halt on in-coming pollen?

Giving us 22 16 20 and 23.

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2020, 09:40:35 am »

Ouch! It will be 27, 25, then 26F here. That is a killing freeze. All the new spring growth and flowers will be dead. As a first year beek, I worry about my winter colony. At least it will warm back up during the daytime into the 40s and 50s, unlike some you northern and central guys.

jimineycricket · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2020, 10:26:56 am »

List of pollen sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pollen_sources

Some people do not like Wikipedia so do with this what you like.

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2020, 11:20:28 pm »

Great resource jiminey. Thanks.

Ben Framed · « **Reply #20 on:** January 18, 2020, 10:03:59 am »

https://youtu.be/ENuw5rBBSU4

yes2matt · « **Reply #21 on:** January 19, 2020, 08:10:57 am »

Quote from: Bob Wilson on January 17, 2020, 08:30:03 am

Yes2matt. It is stuff like dead nettle that I do not even recognize that will keep me confused about when pollen or nectar is available.

I think I link this article to someone five times a year. It saved my brain. http://identifythatplant.com/three-easily-mixed-up-early-spring-plants/

BeeMaster2 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 21, 2020, 07:58:22 am »

Maples are blooming in north Florida.

yes2matt · « **Reply #23 on:** January 22, 2020, 08:23:29 am »

Quote from: sawdstmakr on January 21, 2020, 07:58:22 am

Maples are blooming in north Florida.

60 footer on my delivery route opened up wide just in time to get slapped with 23 degree nights.

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #24 on:** January 22, 2020, 11:44:37 pm »

Same here yes2matt. Although we are about to climb back into the 57/40 range again. I wonder how long it will take for blooms to re-emerge.
I have become an even more avid nature observer because if beekeeping.

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #25 on:** January 26, 2020, 04:32:45 pm »

Temperatures are around 58/39 for the forseeable future.
Forsythia is beginning to bloom. Dianthus as well.
I guess this means spring has sprung in mid-Georgia. I am as nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. I suppose I need to start giving room in the hive. Time for empty frames in the brood box, or wait another few weeks? Last year I caught my swarm at the beginning of March. That is 5 weeks away.

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #26 on:** January 26, 2020, 05:12:26 pm »

Mr. Wilson, I got a laugh from that cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Glad to see someone has bees flying and bringing in pollen. My area, N. Arkansas, has a few weeks until we see flowers; like maybe 6 weeks???

So are all your hives looking good, with flying bees? I hope so. To date, all my hives have flying bees as noted on the few days of warmth, 43-47F+.

Van

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #27 on:** January 26, 2020, 05:48:29 pm »

Van. I just have the one hive. If swarming starts here around the beginning of March, when do I start expanding the hive with empty frames? I suppose the answer is, "Open up the hive on a warm day and check to see."

van from Arkansas · « **Reply #28 on:** January 27, 2020, 10:06:36 am »

Mr. Wilson, when the queen runs out of room to lay, she will begin swarming mode. She, the bees, will make queens cells and you can make splits if you wish.
Van

Bob Wilson · « **Reply #29 on:** January 27, 2020, 11:49:06 am »

52 degrees, wet and overcast, and the girls are starting to come out.