Nectar Flow?

Teena · May 12, 2012, 04:09:23 PM

Newbee question....What exactly does "...when a nectar flow is on" mean? When there are flowers blooming? How does one know if it is flowing or not? and how does one know when it stops?

Thanks!
Teena

AllenF · May 12, 2012, 04:24:09 PM

In July when nothing is blooming and the bees start to rob each other out here in Georgia, then you know that the honey flow has stopped. The flow is on when stuff blooms and the bees are storing honey.

David McLeod · May 12, 2012, 04:31:07 PM

The flow, aka honey flow or nectar flow is a colloquial term for the time period when the bees are actively bringing in nectar for the production of honey. On and off should be obvious as well as light and heavy.
How to determine whether one is ongoing and it's volume requires observation of the bees (volume of traffic in and out plus percent carrying pollen vs no pollen), observation of flowering plants in the immediate area plus knowing which provide nectar/pollen/both or none, observation of weight gains within the hive, observation of weather patterns and how it effects foraging times and activities plus nectar and/or pollen production.

David McLeod · May 12, 2012, 04:44:28 PM

Teena, our flow here is tapering off. This recent rain has helped but this year was lighter than hoped down here as the early green up put everything into bloom in a shorter window (more plants in bloom than the bees can cover compared to being able to move from poplar to privet in a more timely fashion) plus we hit a dry spell right at the peak of bloom (nectar is mostly water). The persimmon is what they are working now and should be about wrapped up with it this week. There will be a slow trickle for the rest of the month but when the heat of June hits we tend to go dry until the goldenrod and aster in the fall.

AndrewT · May 12, 2012, 08:08:14 PM

The best way I've found to judge the flow from year to year is to watch your bees. and watch the trees, bushes, and other plants in your yard or area. You'll learn to recognize when the flow starts to ramp up by the activity inside the hive. Then, as that is going on, keep track of which flowers are in bloom at that time, or what stage other trees and plants are at as the nectar flow starts, when it reaches it's peak, and when it tapers off.

The flow will occur at differing dates from year to year, but if you learn, for example, that the flow in your area gets started good at the same time as the clover in your yard starts to bloom, or after the lilacs are done blooming, you'll find that those relationships stay the same from year to year. At least they seem to for me.

JP · May 12, 2012, 08:18:51 PM

They can usually find pollen, nectar is another story. Teena, talk with some local beeks in your area to find out what significant & minor flows occur in your area. Where I'm located clover & black berry are first, followed by privet then miscellaneous flows until now which is our chinese tallow flow (our main flow). Ligustrum is also blooming now. We look forward to golden rain trees & goldenrod come October.

Another gauge generally speaking is if they refuse to take feed you know you're in a decent flow in your area.

...JP

hardwood · May 12, 2012, 11:04:04 PM

If the burr comb is white wax the flow is on...if nothing is coming it it's know as a "dearth".

Scott

David McLeod · May 12, 2012, 11:29:01 PM

Yep, white burr comb is a dead giveaway of needed space for storage. Always a good time to get foundation drawn.
Don't just look at the flowers in your yard but ride the roads within a two to five radius of your hives. Look in the road ditches, pastures, open fields, woods, and neighborhood yards. Learn to be able to identify what you find and determine when it is in bloom. By knowing the amounts and locations of nectar plants combined with known bloom times you can begin to predict when each year the flow will start. As each year goes by and you corelate this hard won knowledge it will help you to stay one step ahead of the bees and provide them what they need when they need it.

BeeMaster2 · May 13, 2012, 12:13:05 AM

Being in
Georgia, you probably have Palmetto bushes. I just checked them this morning and here in N FL they are in bloom and are a major source of honey here. I also saw gall berry in bloom but suspect we are on the tail end of it. As JP said, Popcorn (Chinese Tallow) is also in bloom. It makes a dark honey.
Jim

David McLeod · May 13, 2012, 12:31:01 PM

Teena, AllenF and myself are all part of what they call the Atlanta Metropolitan Area no palmetto or gallberry this far north unless it's planted as an ornamental :(
Holly and privet do make up a large part of our flow and for the most part is done for the year.

Teena · May 13, 2012, 03:44:53 PM

Thanks Guys! That helps me a lot. I will observe and learn as I go, but it is great having all of you to guide me!

Teena

BeeMaster2 · May 13, 2012, 10:22:12 PM

Quote from: David McLeod on May 13, 2012, 12:31:01 PM
Teena, AllenF and myself are all part of what they call the Atlanta Metropolitan Area no palmetto or gallberry this far north unless it's planted as an ornamental :(
Holly and privet do make up a large part of our flow and for the most part is done for the year.

Wow. That is surprising. Neither of them seem to be affected by cold weather and they are both the first ones to recover after a fire. Funny thing is that even when the are full green, they burn like someone pored gasoline on them.

AllenF · May 13, 2012, 10:27:52 PM

We do not live in sand country. Red clay and rock here. Coastal plants are just not found here.

tillie · May 13, 2012, 10:31:28 PM

In the Metro Atlanta area the flow is about done - it is linked to the tulip poplar - luckily their blooms are huge so it's easy to see when they have stopped blooming. The problem for us this year was little rain at the peak of the flow and the early spring when everything bloomed at once. I knew the nectar flow had stopped when I suddenly found bees exploring all the old wax I have in boxes near their hives. They haven't been there before this year, but now that the flow is about over, they are looking everywhere for supplies.

Since the privet bloomed this year at the same time as everything else, it will be interesting to see how that affects the taste of the honey.

My bees often bring in a good bit of nectar when sumac and catalpa bloom in June as well.

Linda T in Atlanta

divemaster1963 · May 13, 2012, 11:01:20 PM

south of hwy 18 here in ga. palmetto bushes are here. they are located in sandy areas around swamps and rivers. there are tons of it in the low area behind the tect school off eisinhouwer hwy in macon. I have been looking for a yard for bees in that area. east of gray hwy towards wilkinson county there is palmeto bushes also. I have bees in a field in that area.

john

seaching areas around you and asking local grounds keepers or botanists could help

AllenF · May 13, 2012, 11:05:49 PM

How far from the fall line are you? Most of the sand in Ga is south of the fall line.

divemaster1963 · May 13, 2012, 11:15:34 PM

I'm over here off gray hwy. (hwy 129) in gray. ( on the Granit hill) I'v dirven the area and every back road in middle ga. for the company I worked for for 10years. I learned as a child to look at the plants from working with my uncle in Va. in his yards. (old habits you never forget. :) There is a affalfa field over off hwy 18 towards gordon that I'm looking at to try and get some hives on after I get built up in hive no.s .

john

David McLeod · May 13, 2012, 11:33:49 PM

Macon is dead astride the fall line. It always amazes to see the geographical differences at each end of 475. From hills and clay to sand ridges.
I've seen palmetto on the south side of macon. I've got my eye on two areas for yards. Just south of Macon near the river swamp and just north of Thomaston on top of the mountain. Probably the closest you'll find both palmetto and sourwood.

divemaster1963 · May 13, 2012, 11:40:41 PM

Quote from: David McLeod on May 13, 2012, 11:33:49 PM
Macon is dead astride the fall line. It always amazes to see the geographical differences at each end of 475. From hills and clay to sand ridges.
I've seen palmetto on the south side of macon. I've got my eye on two areas for yards. Just south of Macon near the river swamp and just north of Thomaston on top of the mountain. Probably the closest you'll find both palmetto and sourwood.

hey drive wilkinson rd off Pinono to rocky creek rd. it's everwere. also out by the shrinners place behind the pepsi plant. I'm wanting to get a hold of the land owner over there. he has fields of hay and groves over there plus the swamp area. it wolud be good fro up to a 1000 hives there. It would make for a great communal yard there.

I always thought that a area that could sutain a communal yard would be great for vets and newbees to learn and grow together.

john

tillie · May 14, 2012, 12:37:26 AM

Last year I had bees in Rupert (outside of Butler beyond Thomaston) and we had to move them to Atlanta - there was NOTHING for them to forage. The farms around there all had cattle and no crops to speak of. I love the variety of nectar in the metro area.

Linda T in Atlanta