Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: twb on May 24, 2009, 09:32:55 PM

Title: Do bees go to Russian/Autumn olive bush flowers?
Post by: twb on May 24, 2009, 09:32:55 PM
These bushes are everywhere and smell like honey when blooming, but I have not yet seen honey bees on them.  Bumbles and leaf cutters but not honey bees.  If they go to them do they get nectar, pollen or both?
Title: Re: Do bees go to Russian/Autumn olive bush flowers?
Post by: Rogan on May 24, 2009, 10:25:27 PM
We have quite a bit of Autumn Olive in Maryland.  I recently found out that it is an invasive plant and will grow where it is not disturbed such as along fence rows, hedge rows, tree lines, etc.  But as a beekeeper...who cares??  In my area it normally blooms for about 2 weeks starting the first week in May.  It has thousands of very sweet scented flowers.  Everytime I go and look up close, they are covered with bees.  Since I am only in my 2nd year of beekeeping, I have no idea what the noney tastes like.  Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Do bees go to Russian/Autumn olive bush flowers?
Post by: sonny on May 27, 2009, 09:51:01 PM
Hi, Here in central WV autumn olive blooms mid to late April. The honey is very lightly colored and tastes faintly like the smell of the blossoms,real flowery.