What's flowering: Victoria

[Andersonhoney]

The trunk in that picture maybe messmate.

[turando]

Thanks Vin. Learning about these plants is very interesting. :)

[Lancej]

Checked a few hives down on the Mornington Peninsular today, they have slowed due to swarming, but not much happening down there, the flow has slowed. Waiting for the next lot of tea tree to bloom.

[Andersonhoney]

Broad leaf peppermint (eucalyptus dives) is in good bud, (advaced) in the north east.
Narrow leaf peppermint (eucalyptus radiata) also look good, similar flowering times.
As to when they will flower...... I would think November but this year it maybe December.  As it's so cool in those elevated areas at the moment I'm in no hurry to get there, I just thought I'd mention it as I'd talked it up earlier in the year. I think they will flower well it just may be too cold and wet to be of much use.
Red gum (eucalyptus camaldulensis) all the goulburn river is "washed out" that is all this rain has produced lots of new growth to the detriment of the existing buds.

[Andersonhoney]

Cape weed continues,  there is a bit of pattersons curse, but not in the volume it used to be and always a chanced to be sprayed while your bee's are on it.
Tea tree is along way off in the north east as well. I think for those chasing it it'll be a white Christmas.
Some yellow box (eucalyptus melliodora) still flowering I would think it's too cold and wet to yield any nectar.
Red box (eucalyptus polyanthemos) flowers washed out, new growth now pushing through. Watch these for lurps.
What's happening out your way.?

[Lancej]

Heading to the hills above Mansfield ths weekend, will check out the trees. There is also larg areas of blackberries l would like to check out.

[Lancej]

Up at Tolmie this weekend, nothing flowering above 800 metres

[Andersonhoney]

Checked out a tea tree site on Wednesday.  It's not a great flowering but what put me off was that there wasn't a single bee on it. Lots of native bees ( hover fly ).  Bees were on the Cape weed at about 1 bee per 2m□ so plenty around. I'm assuming that the nectar of the Cape weed is sweeter than that of the leptospermum. I'll go there again in a few weeks and reassess.

[Andersonhoney]

Lance are you going to the big clearing sale up a tolmie in a few weeks?
This time last year the black berry was flowering well up that way.

[Lancej]

Tolmie hasn't warmed up yet, still a bit fresh, 200m down a few trees were starting to flower, I wasn't driving so didn't get a chance to stop and look. Don't know about the cleaning sale as of yet, the mother in law is away so no updates.

[Andersonhoney]

Just got back from Wilson's prom and along that coast.  Tea tree, paper barks, wild radish cape weed etc . Lots of hover flys on it not a single honey bee same as out in the wimmera last week. Anyone else notice the same about, anyone...........anyone.

[Lancej]

Spent the weekend up at North Blackwood, fruit trees came into bloom on the weekend with the warm weather.  Hawthorn trees still not flowering, blackberries still weeks off. No hover flies, still to cold, speaking to the farmers, spring is slow up in the high hills.

[Lancej]

Anyone have a update on whats flowering at the moment.

[Geoff]

 Just travelled to Kerang over the weekend Lance and there are massive amounts of Hawthorn in full bloom between Macedon to Elphinstone.

[turando]

Going beveridge on Sunday to see what's happening around there. Put some hives there at a friend's farm.

[Andersonhoney]

The warmer weather has started lots of new growth on the eucalyptus, this could see lots of buds pushed off til next season. Some yellow box is flowering as too is broad leaf peppermint and some red box ( but most of that is done). Buds on tea tree north of melbourne and north east. Blackberry is just starting to bud this time last year both tea tree and blackberry were almost finished. New growth on manna gum even upto 100mm in the north east this may affect the buds so keep an eye on that. Still patches of pattersons curse flowering on the tips. Not a lot exciting the bees or the beekeeper at the moment.  Bees in the mallee are the only ones I have making any honey, I'll check those on Thursday and I'll let you know how it is going.

[Lancej]

Back up at North Blackwood yesterday,  your right Geoff, the Hawthorns are in full flower until go get to our place, they have just started to open up. I have only one hive up there for the fruit tree's,  doing very poorly, Misses asked me to pick elder flowers so she could make champagne,  basically nothing to pick.
Went for a quick bike ride through the bush and only saw the odd flower on the trees.

[rawfind]

Going beveridge on Sunday to see what's happening around there. Put some hives there at a friend's farm.

At the moment the hill in beveridge (mt fraser) is full of patersons curse , ive heard its high in alkaloids which can make some people sick.

[Andersonhoney]

Caution with putting bees on patto, particularly when on small land holdings or where your bees are on another property from where the patto is. Although it is better land management to spray it well before it flowers too often people don't notice it until it's in bloom and then spray herbicides.
On the other side of your decision making its great for building up good hives.

[Lancej]

Just having a bit of trouble ID this tree.