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Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: The Bix on November 21, 2009, 05:00:27 PM

Title: Pollen in late November?
Post by: The Bix on November 21, 2009, 05:00:27 PM
I'm watching one of my hives and noticing a fair amount of orange pollen coming into the hive.  I find it difficult to believe that after two significant snowstorms here in Denver area (30 inches about 3 weeks ago and another 12 inches last week) that they actually can find more pollen even though it is 60 degrees (F) today.  Is it possible that the workers are robbing from somewhere?  I don't think so, but just wondering.
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: Michael Bush on November 21, 2009, 05:49:09 PM
Probably some plants still have some pollen on them even though they died in the frost.  That and I've seen dandelions blooming here a couple of days ago.
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: Hemlock on November 22, 2009, 10:05:10 AM
My bees were also bringing in an orange pollen yesterday.  We're in Virginia.  My wife thinks it's the mums everybody puts on their porches this time of year.  Yet, all the blooms are frost killed and dry.  I, myself, do not know but can check them to see if there is activity around them.  At 57 degrees today I'll be looking all over the yard to find the culprit.
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: Hemlock on November 22, 2009, 04:40:09 PM
I found marigolds in the neighbor's yard.  Same color as the pollen.  I'm surprised to see they're still blooming.
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: rast on November 22, 2009, 05:15:11 PM
 Just keep in mind that the pollen is not necessarily the same color as the bloom.
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: Hemlock on November 22, 2009, 05:26:12 PM
@ rast,

Good point.  You're right of course.  But my neighbors still have marigolds blooming in their yard.  :-D

The one colony doesn't seem to be bringing in pollen.  Could I grab a field bee and put her on a pollen source (bloom).  Would she communicate the location to the rest of the field bees?

Am I hijacking this thread?  I'm sorry.
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: wharfrat on November 23, 2009, 07:17:13 AM
Dont forget about the Camelia bushes......last year I think some of my varieties waited until January to bloom....but this year, they are bursting wide open now, and will probably continue to bloom into January. Gotta love it, and they are getting so big...must be 10 feet tall. :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: phill on November 24, 2009, 10:05:08 AM
We had a few unusually warm days here in Massachusetts a couple of weeks ago, and I saw my bees bringing in (orange) pollen by the bushel. I was surprised because we'd already had frost. But apparently something survived.
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: The Bix on November 25, 2009, 04:15:26 PM
Workers cannot rob pollen from other colonies....can they?
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: gardeningfireman on November 26, 2009, 12:21:04 PM
I'm in NE OH, and also have bees still bringing back some orange pollen. I have a lot of goldenrod near me, and think that's where they are getting it from.
Alan
Title: Re: Pollen in late November?
Post by: Irwin on November 26, 2009, 01:09:26 PM
My bees are working these.







http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6rlJE0uOPUo/SlyWVDmfd8I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/Hf2A7ano4RY/s144/DSCN0316.JPG (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_6rlJE0uOPUo/SlyWVDmfd8I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/Hf2A7ano4RY/s144/DSCN0316.JPG)
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