Beautyberry

Bees can’t resist the abundant pollen on the beautyberry blossoms. (Callicarpa dichotoma)

Beautyberry pollen

A great source of pollen – blackberries

The bee in this picture is loaded with blackberry pollen. Blueberries, in contrast, produce much less pollen.

loaded with pollen

Late pusseywillow

The early pusseywillow passed the pollen stage a week or so ago. This later pusseywillow comes at a time when the bees need lots of pollen for expanding brood. We have gathered cuttings from the far side of the farm to establish more plants nearer the bees. Put in a pail of water they will soon establish roots. This variety has loads of pollen.

Hazelnut pollen

The temperature in the shade has reached 10C in the afternoon after freezing at night. The bees are able to venture out in search of nectar and pollen. In perfect timing the hazelnut catkins are covered in pollen. The pussywillows are out and will soon be ready for foraging bees when the hazelnut pollen is done. Incoming pollen will stimulate the bees to raise more brood.

hazelnut pollen

Abundant pollen

Hardy Hibiscus is an example of a plant whose flowers produce lots of pollen. Lately the bees have been coming to the hive with a yellow pollen from a source that is so prolific that bees spill their load when they brush up against the entrance or other bees. The bee in the picture below was so loaded she landed below the hive entrance landing. It’s easy to see how such a big load of pollen can be easily dislodged.

load of pollen

Anise Hyssop, on the other hand, produces so little pollen it’s hard to get a picture of a bee with any pollen at all. In the picture below you can see the small grey pollen load on the bee as it forages in the Anise Hyssop.

Anise Hyssop pollen

Alsike clover pollen

When you look at the Alsike clover blossom, pollen is not visible. It is also not easy to see the faint pink blush of the lower petals. Yet these photos show bees gathering brown pollen from the clover.

Alsike clover

clover pollen

Sheep Sorrel and Pollen

Sheep Sorrel is a great source of pollen. If you kick the plant a cloud of pollen fills the air. Commonly called sour  grass, people love to chew the leaves. The bees love this plant because they can very quickly load up with pollen. It is not uncommon to see 5 or 6 bees in one clump of sheep sorrel and they all seem to be loaded with pollen.

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There are two negatives to sheep sorrel. One is that it is the most obnoxious weed on the farm. It’s favorite place to grow is in the sawdust mulch around the blueberries, it’s roots spread quickly to start new plants and it is hard to eradicate. The second negative is that it’s blossom time coincides with the blueberry bloom.

Picture source:http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/sheepsor.htm