Chris wrote:
> The Devon Apicultural Research Group
> is now into its second year of tracking the flowering periods of
bee-plants in
> relation to the location and altitude of participants.  Nothing published
> yet.

I am curious as to how you decide when the flowering period has 'officially'
started.  If we take rape as an example, it is not uncommon to see the first
flowers in February, or even January if there is a mild winter.  Bees will
work these early patches avidly, but there is, of course, no surplus honey
gathered.  However, even though we see these early patches of flowers, the
crop is not usually in full flower until late April/early May and
significant flows often do not occur until mid/late May.  So what is the
start of the flowering period.  A small patch in January?  When is it
completely yellow?  When the flow starts (and this requires us to define a
flow!)?

Peter Edwards
[log in to unmask]
www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
-- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and  other info ---
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::