Where Will My Bees Forage?? (Moving To New Forested Location)

[Bob D]

I just found out moments ago that we may be moving.. I live with a family member on 23 acres (14 of which is fields of wild blueberries, raspberries, goldenrod and so forth). The rest of the property is treed with Birch, and Pines with a few maple, oak and beach. However, we are within a 1/4 mile from the highway and the wildflowers that are all along it's median strip.

Unfortunately, the place we MAY be moving too is down the road 5 miles… this property is mostly wooded with a large open area (gravel parking lot, some grass and then a paved race track) nearby. Other than that, it’s mainly woods.

What will my 4 hives forage on?

Should I look for a farm somewhere to put them or will the bees find wildflowers and so forth along the rivers through the woods along the (proposed) new property line? They can’t get anything from pines, maples and oaks can they? There is a lake about a mile away and a country residential area... Lawns and flower gardens, but nothing big really.

Go figure!

Bob

[WVbeekeeper]

It almost sounds like you are going to better place to me. One good honey tree is worth more than an acre of wildflowers. I live totally surrounded by forest. There are zero farms. The bees might work clover in the neighbors' yards during the summer but they get everything else from the woods unless I give them something myself. They can collect nectar and pollen from maples if the weather is nice enough for them to fly. My bees have been working maples for the past few weeks. Here is a link to some of the plant species which are most likely in your area that are also beneficial to your bees.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Nectar_Sources_for_Honeybees

[Bob D]

I appreciate the reply and encouragement! I'll go check out that link now!

Hows the beekeeping in WVA? I've thought about coming down that way before.

Bob

[indypartridge]

I live in a log cabin in the woods. The bees do fine. There are a few hayfields within a mile or so that I've seen them work in the summer, but in the spring they work the trees. They really like the tulip populars when they bloom!

[tecumseh]

there are some nectar producing trees, but anything that looks like a vast sea of pine is much like a wasteland that produces nothing for a honeybee.

[Budster]

They'll work fine there. You'd be suprised at what the bees can find in nature!!

[BigDaddyDS]

You'd be surprised at everything that produces pollen and nectar within the 2 mile radius you'll be keeping your bees in! In fact, bees can be kept in urban areas, and can oftentimes produce more honey than they could in an area with only one honey crop. (The reasoning here is that many people will oftentimes plant flowers in their gardens and window boxes, and SOMETHING will always be in bloom, throughout the spring, summer and fall.)

In regards to trees, it's no secret that one of the first natural pollens to appear in our hives is maple pollen.

And, while I haven't heard of an usable pollen from the pines, pine trees will help your bees to produce propolis. And propolis, while not as easily saleable as honey, is still a valuable commodity and can be sold.

So, all is not lost! Move your bees (use the search function here, and type in "moving bees"), and see what they'll bring in. I think you'll be surprised.

BDDS

[MichelinMan]

Bees are resourceful. There are productive hives on top of the Opera House in downtown Paris France. Closer to home... Hives on top of City Hall in down town Chicago.

Check this article:

http://www.featheredtrumpet.com/new_city_bees.pdf