What's flowering: Victoria

[Lancej]

Looks like you're right about the lerps Vin, trees in the local national park are changing colour, some will probably loose most of there leaves.

[Andersonhoney]

Sorry folks, haven't been on here for a while. Canola is well into it, possibly another two weeks to go as a general comment.
Red box and yellow box have started already,  a few weeks early. Red box doesn't look great, (the flowers look a bit dirty), so I'm not expecting much.
Cape weed started about a week ago. It won't be a huge crop as the cold weather has knocked it back a fair bit.
I hope this spring is better than the last.

[damienpryan]

I can never tell what my bees are bringing in the suburbs of Melbourne.

But whatever it is, there seems to be plenty of it...

Cheers

Damien

[Andersonhoney]

Red box still not yielding, a few warm days this week I hope will do the trick.
Black box has started in the north west. Again not a bee on it. Wait and see if it too starts to yield after this week.
White clover looks great down the south west after that rain last week.
Cape weed down that way is also hitting it's straps.
The first of the tea tree variety is flowering too. Starting to yield and bees seem interested in it this year.

[Lancej]

Thanks Vin, any idea how the red gum is coming along this year?

[Andersonhoney]

It's budded well in most areas.  Now that's a statement.   Ah looks good out west. OK along the murray, it's better further down stream. The big worry is lerps, its an insect pest that sucks moisture out of the leaves. It leaves the tree with dried out leaves that drop off. Trees are full of it in some areas.
So my plans are to go to red gum but I'm watching it before I decide where.
Early December for flowering.  Well spread out budding makes for a long flowering.

[Andersonhoney]

Red box is yielding in the diamond valley.  Although very slow to start. That warm weather got it going. I've been told it's be yielding nectar well out by Heathcote for a few weeks.
Some yellow box too is yielding.  Any other reports on that would be good.
Tea tree going ok down the south west.

[rawfind]

. The big worry is lerps, its an insect pest that sucks moisture out of the leaves. It leaves the tree with dried out leaves that drop off. Trees are full of it in some areas.

Is that is what is happening to large groups of trees in some areas that appear to be dying off? i notice on the way into broadford coming from kilmore there a heaps dying right near the creek. Without trees we dont get nice honey its a worry

[Andersonhoney]

Sorry for the delayed answer raw find.  Yes that is the die back issue generally,  although there can be other diseases too.

Red box is pretty much all done, but perfectly followed by yellow box, which is yielding well now that we have some more normal November weather.

[Lancej]

A few weeks ago loaded the hives to drop them off on a property with yellow and gray box. Get up there and the trees have been stripped or flattened by a tornado. At least it was a good drive.

[Milo]

On my property in the GV currently windbreak plantings of Ironbark, Yellow Gum & Black Box are flowering

These are only young trees (8y) but the mature Ironbark are also in bloom. would be good to see how it compares elsewhere.

[Lancej]

Looks like canola is starting to flower, time to move some bees.

[Milo]

Native pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens)
My apple trees (& everyone else?s)

Shocking pink! Or is that Magenta?
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The native bees are also liking it

[Milo]

Olives

Pollen everywhere

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[Milo]

Bottle brush (Callistemon)

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[BeeMaster2]

I wish my Bottle Bush bushes looked like that.
Jim

[Lancej]

Manna gums are flowering in central Victoria, anyone had much of a flow on them?

[damienpryan]

I'm never quite sure what the bees are taking in Melbourne as the potential sources are diverse.
But I've noticed they are pulling in a lot of nectar over the last month.
I'm even thinking of doing a late harvest (advice anyone ?).
I'm not that good on tree identification but I've noticed a lot of natives in flower.
Iron bark, spotted gum (not native to area, street tree) and grey box.
We seemed to have a low point of nectar late summer then picked up in Autumn...

Cheers

Damien

[Milo]

Light autumn flowering of callistemon
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Good flowering of black box
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[Milo]

Ironbark
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Some Wattle - in this case ?flinders rangers? Wattle blooming heavily and the bees are working it for pollen
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