not a bee on the clover

[andrew f]

I am a first year beekeeper. I put my hive at the edge of a large field with LOTS of white clover. The clover has been in bloom for about 2 weeks now, and I have yet to see a bee on a single flower. Do bees prioritize (for lack of a better word) their forage? Does this mean there is something "better" blooming nearby, and they will get to the clover when they need to? Just looking to learn. Thanks in advance for anything anyone can teach me.

[Michael Bush]

There's white clover in bloom all over my yard and I have 20 hives in my yard (well, I just did two splits, so I suppose it 22 now) and I don't see a single bee on the clover either. Must be something better down the road to the south because that's where they all seem to be headed.

[dp]

The same thing happened here. This year everybody has said that this is the most clover that they have seen. No bees on the clover, that is until tulip poplar stopped blooming about a week ago. Now the bees are starting to work the clover.

[tarheit]

Bees will work the source they consider the best. Last year the bees were working clover heavily for about 3 weeks, then suddenly in one day there was not a single bee on them even though they were still in full bloom. Turns out they switch to working basswood. I wouldn't be concerned.

[Scot Mc Pherson]

Not all hives agree on what's the best forage though, perhaps because some bees haven't seen what other hives have yet. Anyway of the 3 established hives at my house, 2 of the hives, the bees travel north. The 3rd hive on the other hand travels east currently.

My swarm caught colony still hasn't established itself enough yet for me to tell which way all the bees are going, there are too few to track, but they ARE coming and going.

[Tia]

Me too. Yesterday was the first time I saw my bees working the clover. Up until now, their priority was somewhere in the woods in front (morning) and in back (evening) of our home.

[Mitch]

About the same story here.It has been warmer and weter than usual here. Alot of the plants are early and running together.I am sure they will work the clover soon but not right now.I am hopeing it stops raing so much.wish i could send some of the rain the the people that need it

[BEEn Stung]

Our clover is not in bloom yet. However, I noticed last year, the bees went to clover early in the morning then went to better offerings down in the swamp.
Check the clover at different times of day.

[CherGarr]

My bees are working the clover like CRAZY! Our backyard came low on the weed treatment priority list last year and so this year we have an acre of white and red clover choking out the grass. It's a jungle right now...I won't let my husband cut the grass until the bees are done with it http://www.beesource.com/ubb/wink.gif. I guess weed and feed is out for the back now! The clover appears to be much more useful than grass!LOL

[Branman]

I'm pretty much in agreement with everyone else. Just recently saw the bees start working the dutch clover. It was an amazing sight when I moved two nucs to my house. Hundreds of bees simultaneously taking observation flights. I hope no neighbors saw it and got freaked out. Anyway back to the point, within 30 mins I saw some of my girls working the clover in my front yard. I think I might go water it

[BerkeyDavid]

Great year for clover here, problem has been the strong wind and lots of rain, the yellow sweet clover is really blooming, they are on it like crazy. Took them about a week from the first blooms to start on it. Today it finally calmed down and the hives are hopping!

Here's to a great season!!!!!

[CherGarr]

OK, stupid question time. If I let my husband cut the clover will it flower again or is this it. He's really griping about the backyard now. If it gets much longer he's not going to be able to cut it with our riding mower(it was beyond the capabilities of the push mower 2 weeks ago http://www.beesource.com/ubb/wink.gif )? At least that's his story. Does clover flower all summer? It seems to me that as a child I made bracelets out of it all summer but I don't remember for sure.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

>If I let my husband cut the clover will it flower again or is this it.

It depends on what type of clover you have. The tall yellow and white clover will regrow if you cut it before the stalk dries out. But it has it's limits and will quit blooming when it gets hot.

The low growing Dutch clover we see in our yards will keep growing most of the spring and summer. Go ahead and mow it high and it will hang in there for quite a long time.

[Mitch]

I agree the dutch clover in the yard will bloom till it get to dry or to cold. I let the yard grow till bout half the clover is going to seed then mow it so it blooms again. The good news here is it stoped raining.I dont have much honey in the supers yet but i am sure it will come in soon.