Red Oak pollen

[jaseemtp]

So in the North Texas area the red oaks are "blooming". There are so many of these trees around that I can not be certain the bees are gathering pollen from them.  When I watch the hives I see the girls returning with loads of pollen but was just curious of they gather pollen from the oaks or is it somethng else.

[luvin honey]

I find this to be an interesting source of pollen colors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollen_source

[AllenF]

On pollen collecting now, I vote for all of the above being collected.

[luvin honey]

I'm seeing at least 3-4 distinct colors coming into my hives. And a LOT of pollen coming in!

[bee-nuts]

jaseemtp

Do You have oak welt killing off the red oak in Texas?  Oak welt has wiped out 70 percent or so of the red oak around me and whas is left is dieing or will likely die over the next 10 years.  Its a real dam shame.  We have/had a ton of them.  Thankfully white and black oak seem immune to the oak welt.

My bees usually have a source of pollen they prefer other than oak pollen when its in bloom.

[jaseemtp]

Yeah the oaks have suffered greatly but mostly it has been the live oaks. I hope it does not hit my property because I'm in an old red oak stand. But if it does I guess I could replace them all with bee bee trees!