Took a long walk around my property today. It looks like someone took a blow torch to the Black Locust trees. I guess they must be really sensitive to cold when first budding/leafing out and got nailed by that cold snap. I guess no Black Locust flow this year? Is this why you experienced beeks say the Black Locust is great one year, and not much another?
JC
Several year back, we had an Easter frost which bite everything including my blueberries. Lost that crop that year but the bees did ok since their was other things blooming out there. Black locust makes great honey, and a lot of it. But it is only a small part of what is out there all spring long.
Same thing in my area. And last year the locust bloomed well and for a long time, but it was cool, windy and rainy all during.
When it's good, it's good, but you just can't count on it.
I wasn't worried about the bees coming up dry, it's just that I got my first taste of Black Locust last year and was hoping for more! :-D
JC
My primary honey flow for the year is tulip poplar, and they look exactly as you described - like someone took a blowtorch to them. I spent part of yesterday raking leaves and all the buds that had fallen off unopened.
Ironically, we had a great black locust bloom in our area, but I don't have any bees near them.