Repost from [mtbakerbees] Early Dearth?

[Mohan Raj]

The Hawthorn bloom has been underway 10 days - 2 weeks by my reckoning. This seems extraordinarily early. I'm not an astute botanist, but we have some good ones on this forum. Set me straight, please!

 

The end of the Hawthorn bloom has long been an indicator the May (nectar) Dearth is upon us or soon will be.  In my jaunts around the county I think I'm already seeing the Hawthorn blossoms on the wane. Could this possibly mean we'll get an early dearth? 

 

In a few late years, what's become the "May-June" dearth has required heavy feeding. By a stroke of luck I already have syrup sugar on hand, but is it enough? If the death begins abnormally early, will it still last into June requiring even more feeding?  These are questions I'm wrestling with lately. 

 

How do the Hawthorns look in your part of the county? Any opinions on a possible early dearth?  Early bloom times related to global warning have caused problems in other parts of the country. Are we next?

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Cheers, Michael

Michael Jaross
Whatcom Bee Help

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Apr 28   #14673   

There are many plants that are way early this year.

 

My apples, even my cosmic crisp is almost in full bloom. Which is a late apple.

 

Hawthornes are not in bloom in my area but I have noticed wild apples, and wild crab apples are. Sometimes these can be confusing to confirm which they are driving at high speeds and a distance.

 

Maybe they are Hawthornes  blooming but a close up look at the plant is sometimes a must. As young Hawthornes can be shruby trees in appearance, which is the same as wild apples.

 

Also the wild mock orange is blooming. Depending on how bad it's been hacked back in a roadside ditch, it's hard to say.

 

All of these plants have the same rounded small white flowers. Different numbers of petals and such but closer examining is sometimes needed.

 

I try to remember where the Hawthornes are at by confirming by sight red berries in the the fall. Then the following spring a check for bloom times.

 

In my area it's the locust that is the last large nectar producer before dearth until blackberries. They have not shown any sign of even starting.

 

There have been years were the dearth was pronounced. This year my fruit and other early blooming plants have had the most blooms on them in years.

 

This winter wasn't as cold, so tip and bud death wasn't as bad. Even a lot of natives are blooming very profusely.

 

Thimble berry hasn't started yet, or goose.

 

If you anywhere near a town or in the city most of garden ornamentals, are in bloom. Even roadside ditches are filled with blooming weeds. Not to mention dandelions and clover in residential yards.

 

So I don't think it's all doom and gloom. 

 

 

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Apr 28   #14675   

You are so lucky to have Locust in those numbers! We only have a small grove, very old on the west side of the island. 

Our wild cherry and plum has already bloomed, and now ending. But a kind of choke cherry, blooming. 

My mother has much Ajuga plant at her house down the road, she says the bees are all over. 

The Mock Orange has not started blooming yet.

Nor Thimble Berry ( or "Hairy Berry") 

Some Salmon Berry is starting to flower.

Where I will drive on the island today I will see all the Hawthorns, and check. 

Apple blossoms  just starting. 

Pear has flower.

Oxalis - "sour grass"- has the red clustering flowers now out in the fields

Along with the white clover just barely starting.

 

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Jolee B. Darrow