Keeping the bees busy

Except for the Elliott variety, blueberry pollination is virtually over. One foraging source that has just blossomed is the Black Locust. (Robinia pseudo-acacia) Black Locust is known for the fine quality of honey it produces. In the evening, the beautiful fragrance of the blossoms fills the air.

Black locust blossoms

Black locust

Just as the local blackberry blossoms reach their peak the Black Locust shows it’s first blossoms. Black Locusts (Robinia Pseudoacacia) are tall fast growing trees that are renowned for the honey they produce.

R. pseudoacacia honey is regarded as one of the world’s finest. The slowly granulating honey is water-white, heavy bodied, fine flavoured with high fructose and low enzyme content. Tree improvement for late flowering and nectar sugar content is going on in Hungary and America. Source:AgroForestryTree Database

              Black locust flowers and tree

The Black Locust follows the rhododendron, blueberry, blackberry and clover in the quest to make sure there is continuous forage for the bees.