Follow the Bloom 2016

[Dallasbeek]

Bees are all over a neighbor's Texas mountain laurl tree that covered with blooms. 

[crmauch]

We're having tons of blossoms on Bradford pears, a fruitless trash tree with weak branching habits that looks pretty, grows fast, dies early, but provides pollen and maybe nectar to our bees.  Plant nurseries promote the sale because they are cheap, grow quickly and in about 12 years they can be replaced.

And many places they're no longer 'fruitless'.  Originally Bradford pear was the only variety of Pyrus calleryana in this country and since it wasn't self-fruitful, produced no fruit (what fruit it produces are less than a 1/2 inch).  But others introduced other "improved" varieties so now the pears produce fruit and the tree is becoming invasive in certain areas.

[Dallasbeek]

I didn't know some had become fruitful. All I know is the blooms falling off clog my pool skimmer basket and I have to empty it several times a day when my neighbor's tree is blooming.  And they have branching of about 25 or 30 degrees, which makes a very weak branch with not enough wood tissue in the branch to support the limbs once they get large, so the branches split, frequently causing splits down the main trunk.  My neighbor had 3 of them until two split down the trunks and almost took out part of his house.

Some of the other varieties are just as attractive without the weak branching, but plant nurseries continue to stock the Bradford variety and developers continue to plant them.

[yes2matt]

[bwallace23350]

I agree a Bradford Pear is a worthless tree. There are so many other far worthier trees to plant in a yard. A flowering cherry is prettier and longer lived if you want to blooming ornamental but nothing beats a nice dogwood tree in my opinion.

[bwallace23350]

My bees are all over the white clover field they are in and on some wild flowers I do not know the name of.

[BeeMaster2]

I saw blackberry in bloom this past weekend in north Baker County and Palmetto in the middle of Clay County. Jim

[bwallace23350]

My bees are also moving toward the opening privet hedge.

[richter1978]

Odd enough, I saw some goldenrod blooming today.

[BeeMaster2]

Queen Palm has set the buds and should bee in full bloom soon.
Jim

[herbhome]

We have cucumber and umbrella magnolia all around us in full bloom but I have no idea if it is of value to honey bees.

[KeyLargoBees]

Sea Grapes are popping in the Florida Keys.....been a good rain pattern should be a good spring honey year everything is staggered like they should be....will have a flow through mid June at this rate :-)

[Dallasbeek]

Bees working overtime on privet in bloom.

[herbhome]

Blackberry and raspberry started to bloom and bees are definitely on it.

[Peanut]

I have 6 acres of crimson and hop clover in bloom. The bees are working it hard. Tulip poplars are blooming as well. They are bringing in lots of orange pollen, not sure of the source.

[KeyLargoBees]

Not a main source of nectar and pollen here in the keys but there are quite a few planted in yards and as landscape features along US1....caught this girl out on a walk with the dog this morning.
http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/GardenPubsAZ/Necklace_pod_Sophora_tomentosa.pdf
[attachment=0][/attachment]

[bwallace23350]

I wish I had a smart phone only for uploading pictures but my bees are all over the two magnolia trees right now around them

[BeeMaster2]

Black gum trees are a buzzing. I can hear the trees from 70' away. Gallberry are in full bloom with new buds coming my out still.
Jim

[Peanut]

Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) started blooming here in N. Alabama today. Each tree has thousands of blooms, both male and female trees bloom. The female blooms are twice the length of the male blooms. The photo is of a male tree.

Anyway, my bees are loving it. I have several dozen trees here on the farm.

[BeeMaster2]

On May 15, Popcorn trees were buzzing, not as loud as the Black Gum.
Jim