With all its blossoms to visit, May is a wonderful month for honey bees. This bounty of food usually triggers them to swarm as a natural way to reproduce and to take advantage of the plentiful nectar and pollen.
Here are some plants the honey bees will be visiting this month.
Alpine Clematis - Pollen
Altaclara Holly - Nectar
Bearberry Cotoneaster - Nectar and Pollen
Bloody Cranesbill - Nectar and Pollen
Buckthorn - Nectar
Bunchberry Dogwood - Nectar and Pollen
Burkwood Daphne - Nectar and Pollen
Carpet Grass - Nectar
Canada Thistle - Nectar
Coffeeberry - Nectar
Common Lilac - Nectar and Pollen
David Viburmum - Nectar and Pollen
Doublefile Viburmum - Nectar and Pollen
English Hawthorn - Nectar, Pollen and Honeydew
European Cranberrybush Viburmum - Nectar and Pollen
Flowering Dogwood - Nectar and Pollen
Globe Candytuft - Nectar and pollen
Golden Deadnettle - Nectar and Pollen
Grecian Rose - Nectar and Pollen
Hairy Cat’s Ears - Nectar
Kashmir Mountain Ash - Nectar and Pollen
Kew Broom - Nectar and Pollen
Leatherleaf Viburmum - Nectar and Pollen
Littleleaf Cotoneaster - Nectar and Pollen
Oneseed Hawthorn - Nectar, Pollen and Honeydew
Paperbark Maple - Nectar and Pollen
Prostrate Speedwell - Nectar and Pollen
Red Osier Dogwood - Nectar and Pollen
Red Twig Dogwood - Nectar and Pollen
Rockspray Cotoneaster - Nectar and Pollen
Silver Speedwell - Nectar and Pollen
Snakebark Japanese Maple - Nectar and Pollen
Sun Rose - Nectar and Pollen
Sycamore Maple - Nectar, Pollen and Honeydew
Tatarian Honeysuckle - Nectar and Pollen
Whitebeam Mountain Ash - Nectar and Pollen
Wintergreen Cotoneaster - Nectar and Pollen
Beekeepers will be kept busy trying to prevent or catch the swarms. They will also be planning ahead for the summer months and deciding whether or not they can pull more honey off the hives. If drought is common during summer, then beekeepers will need to leave honey on the hive to feed the bees during the drought period.
More May plants can be found here.
Bloom images in order of appearance are by courtesy of chelle, wildflowers, and Paul2032.
Thread Title | Last Reply | Replies |
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Thanks for the list of plants! by virginiarose | Mar 9, 2013 2:58 PM | 9 |