Queen Anne's Lace
The owner of the farm stand that I keep some bees at says my bees have been working Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus Carota) hard. The hives I checked today are rapidly becoming honey bound so they are obviously getting nectar somewhere. Lovell's Honey Plants of North America says QAL yields nectar once every 10 years or so. Is there anyone else whose bees are working QAL? (Happy to experience a 1 in 10 year flow!)
We have lots of Queen Anne's lace here, I'll have to go out and see if they are working it. Wonder how the honey tastes?
Try to learn something new every day and give thanks for all your blessings.
I looked quickly and did not see any activity here on the QAL.
Interesting thread. I had thought that the honeybees didn't work QAL. I've never seen 'em working it so I'll have to keep a closer eye on it now.
Yep, here too.Originally Posted by Ross
It's a predominant weed in my pasture - livestock won't touch it unless it is young and tender, and I have never seen a honeybee work it - if they did, and it produced sufficient nectar, I'd have supers up to the ionosphere.
MM
Moderator
Hold your nose.
Queen annes lace will ruin any edible honey.
In the Willamette Valley, it provides a lesson to most new beekeepers about greed. While all of the local associations are advising newer beekeepers to pull honey by August 1st, there are always those exclaiming, ",They're still bringing it in,,they're still bringing it in!!!!"
Then, they bring in samples to a later meeting asking, "What happened to my honey?".
QAL has a powerful smell of B.O. (Human bad body odor)
If the honey sets around or chrystalizes and is heated, it gets even worse.
I have seen newer beekeepers have their entire crop spoiled to the point of inedible.
Wish I could think of something positive to say about it.
I have exactly ONE hive more than you.
That makes my opinion beyond question.
Same here with the QAL. Tons of it everywhere. Most I have ever seen.
Harry,
Everything I have read on QAL confirms what you said. It is noted for crystallizing within two weeks, is dark in color and has a not so nice smell.
It does not sound like anything I'll be getting excited about.
BO
BO -that has got to taste pretty bad! I can just imagine a persons reaction as they put a spoonful of sweet golden honey in their mouth and then the look on their face when they realize how awful it is. Better save that for when the kids / grand kids act up.
Luckily my bees are avoiding this plant like the plague!
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks