Mesquite and desert trees forced bloom...

[Nugget Shooter]

Just an interesting tidbit from the Arizona desert, as you know summer is known for the lack of nectar and pollen from late June through mid July or early August many places and it is no different here in AZ except we can do "forced" bloom on many of or native species of plants. Trees like Mesquite, Palo Verde, and other Acacia as well as shrubs like Creosote etc. can be watered with a slow flow for a couple days and within a week will begin to go back into bloom. This is my first year beekeeping and I was taught to do this by a friend. I already knew many of our desert plants bloom twice a year, but had not considered doing it manually. My bees are pretty happy with me today because a huge mesquite has now gone into full bloom with thousands of flowers and they are working it hard with 2 others ready to start up. Normally they would begin blooming with the first good drenching from the monsoon season that is just getting under way in the next few weeks, but figured to give the ones here a head start and the bees can forage here until the late summer flow starts.

[BeeMaster2]

Wish I could trigger a flow at my farm during the middle of summer. I could keep my bees out there past the spring flow.
Jim

[Nugget Shooter]

Seems it is the same in many actual desert environments and the trees adapted to be able to reproduce anytime enough rain falls to ensure their survival and most true desert areas in the US and other countries have only two rain seasons and can go months without seeing a drop. Many plants store water for their bloom season and as a result the forage in the Arizona Sonoran is not as bleak as someone having never been here would think. This is in spring where I live with Mexican Poppy and Lupin in full bloom, lots of other stuff as well throughout the year except when we get very hot and dry in mid June or so when things slow down and on dry years the dearth can last 3 months...

[GSF]

Beautiful picture and interesting info.

[mtnb]

That is really interesting NS.