pollen color

colbees · May 12, 2012, 03:50:28 PM

i noticed that my bees are bringing in light yellow and orange pollen what is this from and what type of honey is the best?

AllenF · May 12, 2012, 04:27:27 PM

That can be up to one hundred different plants. If you really what to know, have it tested. Look at how many plants are blooming with in a couple miles of your house.

Grandpa Jim · May 12, 2012, 06:37:29 PM

Check out Wickapedia pollen source a nice chart with pollen colors.
Jim

Algonam · May 12, 2012, 07:17:34 PM

.....and post what you find on here!
I am just a couple of hrs North of you so I too am curious. Your season for many other things is usually 2 weeks ahead of me.
Our apple blossams are now out, almost full bloom, and dandilions are well on their way.

AndrewT · May 12, 2012, 07:27:39 PM

I've always thought it was cool that they mostly put pollen of the same color in each cell, like they want to keep them separate.

Dr. B in Wisconsin · May 13, 2012, 07:49:01 AM

That pollen source link is worth looking at, nice job Gramdpa Jim

nietssemaj · May 13, 2012, 10:48:10 AM

I've been trying to figure the same thing out myself.

Found this neat source for pollen colors. Click on the icon that looks like a flower and you'll get the tool.

http://www.bristolbeekeepers.org.uk/

Bees of Providence Hills · May 13, 2012, 11:24:00 PM

Quote from: AllenF on May 12, 2012, 04:27:27 PM
That can be up to one hundred different plants. If you really what to know, have it tested. Look at how many plants are blooming with in a couple miles of your house.

Allen, how far with a honey bee feed from his home?

divemaster1963 · May 13, 2012, 11:34:10 PM

I'v aways been told upto 3-5miles raduis. depending on conditions.

john

Bees of Providence Hills · May 14, 2012, 01:41:00 AM

Quote from: divemaster1963 on May 13, 2012, 11:34:10 PM
I'v aways been told upto 3-5miles raduis. depending on conditions.

john

Thanks, John. I got my first hive and we live in the timber. One of our sons is 1/2 mile away and has a field of clover. It was getting dark this evening and the bees were coming home at late as 8:15pm central time. It was almost dark in the timber. We have large blackberry patches 1/4 to 3/4 of a mile from the house and hive.

divemaster1963 · May 14, 2012, 11:30:49 PM

If you could set some hives on the edge of the fields in you son's yard you would get better production due to travel time of the bees. maybe talk to the land owner where the blackberries are and get some there also. the varieties you could get will make your mouth water. Get it will you can when the dearth comes its hard.

john

BlueBee · May 15, 2012, 01:12:23 AM

Check out the red pollen this carni was carrying around today. It was visiting the flowers of a Aesculus pavia (Red Buckeye). I'm not sure if the red pollen came from the buckeye or some other plant though.

Bees of Providence Hills · May 15, 2012, 04:17:30 PM

Quote from: divemaster1963 on May 14, 2012, 11:30:49 PM
If you could set some hives on the edge of the fields in you son's yard you would get better production due to travel time of the bees. maybe talk to the land owner where the blackberries are and get some there also. the varieties you could get will make your mouth water. Get it will you can when the dearth comes its hard.

john

Thanks, John, I have a swarm trap in the oak timber next to my son's clover field and two traps near the blackberries that are on our farm. I only have one hive with my "boughten bees" near our house. My wife has a pernnial garden and we have a mixed hayfield near the house. I made a homemade wiere hive that I am also using as a "swarm trap". If I catch a swam I will be done for this year. They say to start with two hives instead of one but I wanted to "catch one" if I could and compare. If I catch one I will put in near our blackberry patch or the clover patch near my sons. The blackberry patch also has several trees that have already bloomed this spring - Elm, willow, wild plum thickets, and the blackberries are almost done - and we have some linden -basswood trees nearby along with several varieties of oaks. Lots of good pollen plants and trees for the bees. Yesterday I stopped by my sons and the wild honey bees were in the red clover and yellow sweet clover "thick".

Michael Bush · May 16, 2012, 06:03:25 AM

By far the best honey is the honey your bees make in your hive...

Bees of Providence Hills · May 16, 2012, 11:29:59 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on May 16, 2012, 06:03:25 AM
By far the best honey is the honey your bees make in your hive...

Yes, Michael, I hope the "newbees" make enough honey that we get some this year! This morning the bees were bringing in "grey pollen" - last of blackberries, I think - and this evening orange pollen from the yellow sweetclover. We went over to our sons and brought back two of our grandsons - Chase 9 - and Kolt -5, to see the new bees. As I was driving out our son's drive the sweetclover and red clover was covered with bees - mostly honey bees but lots of bumble bees,also. The persimmons should be blooming soon and i am anxious to see the bees work the blooms and what color the pollen will be.

jataylor · May 17, 2012, 04:49:36 PM

Thanks for the link GranpaJim. Great resource.