David Fourer wrote:

> Has any method been developed to positively identify what flowers the bees
are going to?

Well, there is the technique of walking around to see what's in bloom and
which flowers have bees on them. There aren't that many really good honey
plants in a given area. I would consult an experienced beekeeper in your
area to find out which are the ones that normally yield. 

The main honey plants in a given area usually have a loyal following. Around
here, people are starting to ask for Japanese Knotweed by name. It's bloody
red and tastes pretty good. 

Most of the major honeys have a distinct flavor, and are easily recognized
once you have tested a good representative sample. Nobody is liable to
confuse basswood with clover, for example. 

Pete

******************************************************
* Full guidelines for BEE-L posting are at:          *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm  *
******************************************************