Camelias are awesome!

[FordGuy]

Hi folks. I posted this same text within the what's in bloom post, but I felt it was so important as winter food for bees it warranted it's own post.

Today is january 28th and I did my inspection of all hives today. BIG NEWS: Camelias are a major winter food source in the South.

Background is that for the past two to three weeks my hives have been wildly active, so much I could see the clouds of bees from a distance. I made three or four times ovserving where I saw bright yellow pollen and some red pollen.

Yesterday i went to my neighbor's cammelia bushes to observe and they were covered with my italians. My neighbor is probably quarter mile away. Within a 3 mile radius there are probably 15 Camelia bushes in full bloom.

for those of you who don't know Camelias, the pollen is so thick you can get it on your hands by touching the bloom. (I am not a gardener so I will defer to those here who know their stuff on cammeilas.)

Today, checks inside the revealed very strong colonies of italians, and small clusters of NWC. two italians were light on honey stores, and I will have to supplement.

The colonies had brought in a honey that had a pink tint to it. (your guess is as good as mine on that, but odds are it's cammelia.)

[FordGuy]

PEOPLE! this is too exciting to ignore! post encouraging responses to my thoughts that I might feel like a real beekeeper!

[danno1800]

Thanks for tracking down the source of their excitement, Ford. I appreciate it. -Dan

[FordGuy]

(with a cool smirk) yeah, no problem. Took some real sleuthing, but I did it. Most men would have given up long ago, but I tracked them buggers down. Another one bites the dust. (puts on clint eastwood squint) Any other mysteries you guys need solvin? (takes a puff from imaginary cigar)

[AstroBee]

I too have seen some very bright red and orange pollen and I just assumed that it was from the local Camellia bushes. Its great to get confirmation from you. Good work!

[Laurence Hope]

My camelia bushes are just beginning to bloom. I will look and see what happens. Thanks for the heads up.

[James Henderson]

In Baton Rouge, various varieties of camellias have been blooming for a few months now. I checked on the swarm in a live oak cavity located in my neighborhood that I'm planning to trap when I am not on business in Arizona for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. I peaked in on the swarm last Saturday without wearing my suit and got my butt kicked by the bees. I noticed that the bees were still brining in lots of pollen, likely camellias and from a little citrus from my yard. My neighbor who was with me got head butted from 20 feet away. Hopefully my future bees are not becoming Africanized.

I've been hit by Italians in the past, but the stings from the bees in this swarm hurt bad....welts and irritation did not go away for 3 days. Italian stings/irritation have lasted only a couple of hours.

FYI, I have read that camellia honey is toxic to humans, but honey, nectar, and pollen apparently non-toxic to bees.

I noticed last week that Acer rubrum drummondii is begining to flower in southern Louisiana. Senecio is also flowering in roadside ditches.

[Tim Vaughan]

15 Camellia bushes aren't enough to give you honey...

[AstroBee]

James,

Can you provide a reference to your statement:

"FYI, I have read that camellia honey is toxic to humans, but honey, nectar, and pollen apparently non-toxic to bees."

I was under the impression that it was those plants in the rhododendron and mountain laurel families.

In fact, aren't camellia the source for tea leaves?
This could be a different "camellia", but some guy in Taiwan claims to have won an excellence award for his camellia honey.
http://gsh.taiwanschoolnet.org/gsh2005/3943/fo_p2c.htm

[ February 01, 2006, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: AstroBee ]

[FordGuy]

The rumor is azalea.

http://www.killerplants.com/plants-that-changed-history/20010724.asp

[TwT]

it says here that camellia is not toxic

here a list of toxic and none-toxic plants

http://www.wctropicalbird.com/bird%20education/toxic_plants.htm

[James Henderson]

AstroBee,

Currently I am on business on the U.S Mexico border and will be here for the next week or two more. When I return to Baton Rouge and before returning to the border for 3 to 4 more weeks, I'll post the reference.

I should have brought more books with me. Almost finished Hive and the Honeybee in the last 1.5 weeks.

JEH