White Dutch Clover...over?

[IBSmoking]

My yard, and my neighnors, are covered with white clover blooms. I have strategically cut aound the big spots to leave them for the bees. However, I haven't seen the first bee on any of it. I'm down here in Alabama. Does anyone know when the bees begin to harvest it?
Willy

[Mitch]

Hard to say if there is something they like better blooming they will work it.Or the clover may not be makeing alot of pollen a nector do to weather conditions.Then they may be working it at a time you are not watching ie when you are at work.

[King bee apiary]

we have a lot of popular trees in alabama and I think the bees like them better but I also have alot and I see the occasional bee working them.
Not at all like it was when I was younger and you could not go barefooted because all the bees working the ground covers.
Maybe if you had 50 hives in the general area you might notice more.

[BaldyLocks]

I am north of you a bit in Nashville but I have seen about the same until this weekend. I am not sure what they were working but yesterday I noticed they started really hitting the clover in my yard for the first time. I too have large unmowed patches in my yard hoping they would come around to it. Maybe you will see increase in the coming days!

[Michael Bush]

Seems like the bees get more interested in the clover at the end of it's bloom than at the begining. I'm guessing the nectar gets more concentrated. Also, there may be something more interesting around. Clover is still nice to have around for filling in the gaps, even if they ignore it sometimes.

[Terri]

I have heard that white clover does not yield as much nectar as many other plants. Perhaps they have something better available?

[BULLSEYE BILL]

>I have heard that white clover does not yield as much nectar as many other plants. Perhaps they have something better available?

White clover, esp, Hubam, produce more nectar than any other.

[naturebee]

The amount of white clover honey is not measured by the quantity of bloom. White clover will yield the most nectar between temperatures of 80 to 90 degrees, with the largest weight gains for white clover occurring on clear sunny days.
Lower than average temperatures and rainy weather can have a drastic effect on the white clover honey yield, and the bees will not forage much from the bloom.

[Tia]

This is the first year I've seen my bees actively work the clover--and they don't go near it until about 4 pm.

[Terri]

>White clover, esp, Hubam, produce more nectar than any other.

Since it is in his lawn, I was thinking that it was white dutch clover, not sweet clover

[BULLSEYE BILL]

>Since it is in his lawn, I was thinking that it was white dutch clover, not sweet clover

I think we are both right. Obviously he would not plant sweet clover in his yard, but I tend to group clovers into colors.

I have seen a lot of sweet clover mowed very short and it still blooms profusely, just closer to the ground.

I think that naturebee's point about temperature is the main reason for the greater production of the white clovers.

[beegee]

I have lots of white clover. The poplar bloom is over and I have lots of poplar trees nearby. I also have privet and boxwoods. The bees have been working the early blooms of boxwood and the clover, but they aren't particularly wrapping up either. Honeysuckle is blooming, but I haven't paid any attention to it as far as the bees working it.

[BerkeyDavid]

I have seen a lot of sweet clover mowed very short and it still blooms profusely, just closer to the ground.
respectfully disagree:

Sweet-clover
Melilotus officinalis (Melilotus alba)
Sweet-clover can have white or yellow flowers. The white-flowered variety was formerly considered to be separate species, Melilotus alba.

• Family: Pea (Fabaceae)
• Habitat: roadsides, waste places
• Height: 2-5 feet
• Flower size: 1/8 inch long
• Flower color: yellow or white
• Flowering time: June to September

Picture of White Sweet Clover (http://www.missouriwildflowerguide.com/Flowers/WhiteSweetClover.html)

Technically "sweet clover" refers to a plant which is much different from the dutch type clovers found in yards. It is a biennial which gets real tall with a completely different type of flower.

Check out the pictures. The latin name means "honey Plant" it is a HUGE producer, first the yellow, then the white. smile.gif

[Mitch]

Hard to say if there is something they like better blooming they will work it.Or the clover may not be makeing alot of pollen a nector do to weather conditions.Then they may be working it at a time you are not watching ie when you are at work.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

>quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have seen a lot of sweet clover mowed very short and it still blooms profusely, just closer to the ground.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>respectfully disagree:

respectfully reply:
I know very well the different types of clovers, what they look like, when they bloom, and how they produce. I plant yellow and white sweet clover along with hairy vetch and buckwheat for forage on the farm, and plant dutch in my yard and around the pasture.

I can also see that white and yellow SWEET clover will still bloom along the ditches and city parks even after they are mowed.

If you need proof, I'll take a picture for you.

[BerkeyDavid]

Respectful further inquiry:

How close do you mow it?

Reason: I have a bunch of sweet clover growing along my lane. My wife and I have constant "discussions" about this. She thinks it would look better mowed.

[chillardbee]

Here in south western BC the humidity and temperture have to be right before the white dutch clover produces nectar. 23 to 27 degrees celsius or 78 to 86 degrees ferenheight and a humid day is ideal for clover. also is the amount of clover around your area, 1 to 4 achers per colony is enough. we usually only have a 3 to 4 week period to capitalize on the flow. I've had full standards of foundation drawn out with capped honey on the outside frames from clover flows but you need a lot of clover, farmers feilds worth of clover.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Respectful further reply ;)

>She thinks it would look better mowed.

Well it is obvious that the plant will produce more nectar if it is taller and has more blooms. So, if you can hold out from cutting it until after the bloom you will be much better off.

If you use a brush hog to mow your ditches, about five or six inches, you will still have a lot of blooms, but higher is better for you.

Perhaps a compromise with her? One swath next to the road? Set the brush hog high ;) nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

[Bob Harrison]

Bullseye Bill,
I missed seeing you at the spring Kansas meeting.
Was out of state so could not attend.

We have got one hell of a Dutch clover flow going in our area. Best since "97". Caught my partner Glenn (you remember Glenn from last fall when I was a speaker six foot five)by surprise. Had all his bees in a holding yard when the flow started.

I was lucky and had mine supered all but 125 singles sitting in a holding yard. Heck with second boxes ! I supered as singles!

Some of the over wintered hives have made two supers of white dutch already. Looks like the flow might continue until Yellow blossom sweet.

The **** stuff popped out overnight and the bees jumped right on the White dutch. I got bees in three counties and all locations are the same.

Mike Vanarsdall( also a member of KHPA) called about a varroa question about an hour ago and nothing going on in Nebraska. Still feeding bees.


If you do not remember talking to me I was one of the speakers at the fall meeting along with my friend Larry Conner. I remember talking to you and Jim after my presentation.

Hope the white dutch kicks in for you as you can't make a lot of honey from Kansas tumble weeds.

Hope to see you in fall!

[Bob Harrison]

Wow! Neat how four letter words are blocked out.
See if will do again. ****!

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Thanks Bob!
I got my news letter today and saw that you are going to be speaking again next fall with Sue Colby. I'm looking forward to a great meeting.

And Marla coming back in spring '06 is a don't miss too. That will be a big meet with both the Mo. and Ks. groups together. They are also inviting Ne., Ok. and Ar. too.

The Dutch is almost like snow drifts in places around here. The yellow is going into it's second week here in Wichita and it's first week in Marion. My planted field is not showing anything yet.

My hairy vetch field is starting it's bloom, that's going to work well for me.

One of my outyards is going gangbusters, almost two supers filled already, don't know with what but will have to add more room this weekend.

The other yard is scheduled to be set out this weekend. With the rain we have been getting, it is promising to be a good year.

Singles? I do unlimited mediums. This year I will be more careful to pull what I can right after the flow so not to lose as much to all those hungry mouths.

Yes, I remember (Busy Bee Acres Inc.) your presentation, I'm glad to see you posting here. See you in the fall. Oh, BTW, what will you be presenting this time?

[Bob Harrison]

I didn't remember being asked to speak in the fall with Sue ( I am sure Joli does) but I will if not a schedule conflict. I have been a no show as a speaker quite a few times but could not be helped.
I have got a major project going for October in Florida but not sure I will have to attend. I was in Florida on bee business when the KHPA meeting was going on.
I turn down almost all speaking jobs except for those organizations I am a member of.
An interesting fact about me is I had kept bees over thirty years (in three states Florida, Kansas & Missouri) before I ever was a memeber of a bee organization.
Another is I started as a migratory beekeeper in Florida with the flatbed truck I owned. I had a restricted license and a 16 year old had to ride with me. Beekeeping was my project in Future Farmers of America.
Although I retired in 1998 I still keep bees on the commercial level. I quit beekeeping twice. Once when I left Florida and once when I left Kansas for Missouri.
When I do quit beekeeping (down to a couple hives) I plan to invent a patch (similar to a nicotine patch for smokers) for those poor souls addicted to beekeeping.

[BULLSEYE BILL]

>I didn't remember being asked to speak in the fall with Sue

Oopps! My bad. It was a mention of your two part article in the ABJ on Almonds.

Clint Walker is scheduled with Sue this fall.