Got my first two hives set up. What next?

[bwallace23350]

What next and also they do not seem to be feeding on the sugar water much but to be working the clover field around them. Is that normal. The queens are out and they are making comb.

[Barhopper]

That's good. Sit back and enjoy them. Make sure the don't run out of room. If it was me and they're not taking much feed I'd take it off.

[bwallace23350]

Thanks

[BeeMaster2]

Your bees are going to pick the best food source. Sugar water does not compete with nectar.
Jim

[GSF]

ditto what Jim said.

[mtnb]

Congratulations! Enjoy them! Google for a little book that's available free online...At The Hive Entrance by Storch. Take your coffee out by the hive, read your book, and watch. lol They're so addicting!
Welcome 

[Hops Brewster]

Yeah.  What she said ^

[bwallace23350]

I also noticed that are on the newly blooming privet. Will they pollinate my tomato, squash, corn, pepper, green bean, and other garden plants?

[bwallace23350]

Thanks for the book tip.

[KeyLargoBees]

Will they pollinate my tomato, squash, corn, pepper, green bean, and other garden plants?

Tomato....not really they will poke at it but aren't really interested
Corn....Not at all its wind pollinated
Pepper...yes
Green Bean.....yes
Others is based on type

Here is a wiki article on it.....please note its a wiki so there may be some inaccurate info in there
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crop_plants_pollinated_by_bees

[crmauch]

Some solitary bees will seriously get involved (particularly sweat bees in my experience) with pollinating tomatoes (I think because tomatoes need 'buzz pollination'), but tomatoes (in general) are self-pollinating usually by being jostled by the wind.

Peppers and green beans are generally self pollinating as well (but bees are probably more interested in them than tomatoes.

Almost all grains (wheat, rice, corn, etc),  are wind pollinated.

Melons and squashes generally require bee pollination as they have (on the same plant) separate male and female flowers.

Some fruit trees are self pollinating (ex. most peaches), but fruit set can be improved by bee pollination (this can actually be a minor curse). 

Most apples and pears are generally self-incompatible (i.e. a varieties' own pollen cannot pollinate its own flowers).  A few triploid apples cannot pollinate themselves or other trees.

European plums (prune-plums) are often self-pollinating (think Stanley), but not all (Green Gage).  Asian plums (usually the round ones), require a different Asian plum for pollination.

Cherries are complicated.

Will they pollinate my tomato, squash, corn, pepper, green bean, and other garden plants?

Tomato....not really they will poke at it but aren't really interested
Corn....Not at all its wind pollinated
Pepper...yes
Green Bean.....yes
Others is based on type

Here is a wiki article on it.....please note its a wiki so there may be some inaccurate info in there
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crop_plants_pollinated_by_bees

[Michael Bush]

Bees, being hoarders, usually won't quit taking syrup until they've backfilled the brood nest and swarmed.  But sometimes they seem to have sense enough to go for the nectar instead.

[bwallace23350]

They are making comb and buzzing about but not taking the syrup really

[GSF]

Key, I often hear folks say that bees won't work corn or that they will and there's not really any nutrition there for them. Around here bees work the heck out of a corn tassel. You're right, it is pollinated when the pollen falls or is blown off the tassel by the wind.

I can't help but wonder, if the pollen from corn isn't any good for them, why do they work it so much? I think they know something we don't.

[KeyLargoBees]

Hey I am a suburban boy/beach guy not a farm guy so i will trust you rural beekeepers if you tell me they work corn :-)

Just never seen it myself and was basing it off of the U of F extension document listing plants pollinated by the ladies in Florida ;-)

[OldMech]

My wife refuses to go into the sweet corn patch of the garden at vcertain times becuse the bees are thick in the sweet corn tassels..   I honestly dont know if they get much from them, but they DO VERY much work them..   The corn tassels from field corn about 100 yards away do not seem to have the draw to bees that the sweet corn does.