you wrote:
>One interesting fact is that bees will not take nectar from a plant that
>has too high a mineral content in its nectar.
>


This is not altogether true as it would depend on the type of bee and 
selective breeding.

For instance, in avocado  honey is rich in different minerals, especially 
potassium.   It is suspected that potassium, which is reported to repel 
honey bees from onion nectar, may be a repellent component in avocado 
nectar as well.

When New World Carnilian bees were tested against Italian bees for avocado 
pollination.  Based on analysis of avocado sugar perseitol in their honey, 
it was found that NWC‘s collected 1.4 to 18.1 times more avocado nectar 
than the Italian bees, and suggested a possible genetic basis responsible 
for a foraging preference for forage containing high mineral content. 

A genetic basis for the propensity to visit avocado flowers was further 
supported by the consistently high honey perseitol content of selected 
colonies over two years. A genetic component for preference to target 
crops attests the possibility of breeding honey bee strains that will be 
effective pollinators where competition with alternative flora may be a 
problem.

Best Wishes,
Joe

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