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Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:27 Jul 2020, 20:29
by AdamD
At the moment, my bees are doing next to nothing - just drifting in and out of the hive a little bit. Until you leave a hive open for a short while and bees arrive from everywhere else! It's robbing season for me; with little forage and still plenty of bees around. I had to give up on Saturday as they were following me around the apiary from hive to hive.

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:28 Jul 2020, 12:04
by Chrisbarlow
Teasels are flowering... I think bees work em

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:28 Jul 2020, 12:23
by thebigparticle
I would appreciate if anyone can report on the Ling on the North York Moors?

I have access to a site near Goathland/Fylingdales and was thinking of taking some hives this weekend.

Cheers

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:28 Jul 2020, 12:41
by NigelP
Can't speak for the Eastern side, but Ling is not fully out on the Western side. Some ling in flower in very sheltered areas, probably 1-2 weeks away depending on weather. It seems a little late this year. Lots of bell but it's a bit patchy.
Lots of damage by heather beetle with swathes of dead heather.
Am taking hives up tomorrow AM and will report back.

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:28 Jul 2020, 12:53
by Chrisbarlow
NigelP wrote:
28 Jul 2020, 12:41
Can't speak for the Eastern side, but Ling is not fully out on the Western side. Some ling in flower in very sheltered areas, probably 1-2 weeks away depending on weather. It seems a little late this year. Lots of bell but it's a bit patchy.
Lots of damage by heather beetle with swathes of dead heather.
Am taking hives up tomorrow AM and will report back.


Thanks Nigel, hopefully taking a couple in next few days.

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:28 Jul 2020, 13:39
by thebigparticle
Thanks Nigel

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:28 Jul 2020, 19:18
by Bobbysbees
Privit is in full bloom. But budlia is starting to go over now. Think thats about it in my corner of the the borders.

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:29 Jul 2020, 10:04
by NigelP
Just back from taking a few more hives up to moors. Heather is pinking up nicely. Doubt it will yield much for a week or so, good weather permitting. Potentially with all the rain we have had in July....IF we can get some decent weather in August it could be a good year. Last year the weather in August was pants, windy , wet and cold....and the yield was the poorest I've ever known.

Chris, which moor are you heading to, if it's not top secret /wry grin/?

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:29 Jul 2020, 17:44
by thebigparticle
Your not wrong about last year. I think what I did get came in about one week at the end.

Thank you for the report.

Patrick

Re: Forage , what's flowering in your area?

PostPosted:29 Jul 2020, 20:14
by NigelP
Yup, spot on last week of August was the only decent weather last heather season. Year before was the drought year. Had a decent flow for the middle two weeks of August and then it was like someone turned the tap off......
Year before that was amazing....it went on and on and on.
Alas the August long range forecast is not looking good. After the next few days of warm weather its going to be cool, breezy , rainy and changeable....not ideal.