by HoneyLover Susan Rudnicki
Flower-nectar and pollen are the life’s blood of our bees and—even though we are in the month of November—much is in bloom in the city. Many plants from the Southern Hemisphere bloom in Winter and irrigation of city gardens blurs the droughty conditions naturally seen in the wild lands of California.
I’m often surprised by the relatively sparse knowledge beekeepers have about the plant resources that are so fundamental to bees’ health and prosperity. We must try to hone our observational skills on the plant life around us and what those blossoms are offering our bees. When we pay attention, we can easily conjecture what bees will be storing in their combs and how colonies may be growing. A LOT of beekeeping is taking a long view of a process and not so much a set of strict rules of what to expect.
Here are a few things in bloom I’m seeing now:
- Melaleuca quinquenervia (Paperbark tree)—white, bottlebrush flowers and thick, squishy, peeling white bark. There are several types of melaleucas.
- Eucalyptus of various kinds—E. ficifolia (now called Corymbia ficifolia)—Huge trusses of flowers in shades of red, pink or orange. E. camaldulensis (Red River Gum)—white or pale yellow flowers. And E. globulus (Blue Gum)—white flowers.
- Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian Pepper Tree)—Tiny but profuse white flowers.
- Callistemon rigidus (Bottlebrush tree)—red, bottlebrush flowers.
- Rosemary, Lavender and Basil—all have the small flowers bees seem to be most attracted to.
- Citrus trees—lemon, orange, lime.
Take a look around and notice something new. What plants are attracting the bees’ attention in your neighborhood?