Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Nyleve on April 10, 2014, 07:47:52 PM

Title: Wow - they're already bringing in pollen!
Post by: Nyleve on April 10, 2014, 07:47:52 PM
In central Ontario, we still have snow on our fields in many places (here, for sure) and absolutely no trees are budding whatsoever. The last couple of days have been warmer but I have yet to see anything in bloom, except for a measly patch of snowdrops in my garden. So where the heck are my bees getting their bright yellow pollen from? I suppose someone might possibly have a few crocuses nearby but I can't imagine where the girls are finding enough pollen to bring in. Ideas?

Southerners can chuckle if they want.
Title: Re: Wow - they're already bringing in pollen!
Post by: buzzbee on April 10, 2014, 07:56:17 PM
Skunk cabbage
Title: Re: Wow - they're already bringing in pollen!
Post by: Nyleve on April 10, 2014, 08:01:24 PM
We don't have skunk cabbage around here. NOTHING is blooming in huge woods. It's still deep with snow.
Title: Re: Wow - they're already bringing in pollen!
Post by: Moots on April 10, 2014, 08:37:00 PM
Quote from: Nyleve on April 10, 2014, 07:47:52 PM

Southerners can chuckle if they want.

Nyleve,
It's all relative....I had the exact same question when my bees started bringing in pollen "BIG TIME"...didn't seem like anything was blooming....Of course for us, that was late December!  :-D
Title: Re: Wow - they're already bringing in pollen!
Post by: ggileau on April 11, 2014, 08:08:06 PM
Quote from: buzzbee on April 10, 2014, 07:56:17 PM
Skunk cabbage



That more than likely is what I'm seeing. Funny thing is I have set out pollen sub mixed with pollen that I collected last year and they are way more interested in the pale yellow stuff that they found. Kind of makes me proud of them :-D 
Title: Re: Wow - they're already bringing in pollen!
Post by: Nyleve on April 11, 2014, 08:41:52 PM
Turns out my silly little patch of snowdrops is teeming with my bees. And I have seen a few crocuses - so I guess they're finding that stuff. I also put out some "feed bee" pollen substitute and they are sort of interested but still going out foraging. Good girls!

It's been a long long winter...