Yellow Jessamine Poisoning In reference to Dr. Sanford's comments on yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) poisoning of bee in Florida this spring, eastern North Carolina has a history of problems with jessamine poisoning. I did some work on the problem while an undergraduate at N.C. State University. In the 1970's there were a number of queen breeders in eastern N.C. who routinely moved their grafting operations 100 miles west during the jessamine bloom because they would suffer 90% queen mortality if they stayed in place during the jessamine bloom. We tried pollen trapping during the bloom but without much success. We do not see problems with honey production colonies, but the queens were adversely affected. The poison in jessamine is an alkaloid and is very toxic. All parts of the plant are toxic, so its use in the landscape should be considered. It is a popular ornamental vine, there are even double flowered sports, such as the cultivar "Pride of Augusta", but all are potentially dangerous. As a matter of interest, we have blue or purple brood in N.C. too, but we get blue honey too. The blue honey comes from titi and sourwood (Oxydendron arboretum) growing on certain soil types. Bill Lord Louisburg, N.C. -- William G Lord E-Mail : wglord@franklin Internet: [log in to unmask] Phone :