🌼 What’s Blooming?

🌼 What’s Blooming?

How Flowers, Trees & Weeds Signal a Spring Nectar Flow

By Mark Vanderende | The Foraging Bee
www.theforagingbee.ca

One of the most powerful tools a beekeeper can have isn’t found in a hive tool kit—it’s observation. Watching the landscape and paying attention to what’s blooming can tell you exactly what’s going on inside your hive… without ever cracking the lid.

In early spring, bees rely on the first flush of flowers, trees, and yes—even weeds—to fuel brood rearing and kickstart their season. But for beekeepers, these early bloomers are more than pretty scenery—they're natural cues that the nectar flow is on the way.

Let’s take a closer look at what to watch for in the spring months and how to read the floral signs of the season.

🌳 Tree Blooms: The Silent Workhorses of Spring

Trees are often overlooked, but they’re some of the earliest and most important nectar and pollen sources for bees.

Key Trees to Watch (March–April):

• Willow (Salix spp.) – One of the first to bloom, packed with pollen. Crucial for early brood rearing.

• Maple (Acer spp.) – Red, silver, and especially bigleaf maple (April–May) provide strong nectar flows.

• Fruit Trees – Apple, cherry, pear, and plum are bee favorites when they bloom in April and early May.

• Alder, Cottonwood, Poplar – Less about nectar, but great early pollen sources. Poplar resin is also used by bees to make propolis.

🌿 Tip: “When bigleaf maples start to hum with bees, it’s your signal to get those honey supers on!”

🌾 Weeds & Wild Things: Nature’s Secret Forage Patch

What many people call weeds, bees call breakfast. These underappreciated plants are often the first reliable forage when nothing else is blooming.

Look for:

• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) – A major player! High in both nectar and pollen.

• Chickweed (Stellaria media) – Small white flowers offering light nectar.

• Deadnettle & Henbit (Lamium spp.) – Bees love these purple blooms in cool, damp areas.

• Shepherd’s Purse & Bittercress – Tiny flowers with big impact for early foragers.

🌼 Observation Tip: “A field full of dandelions is like a buffet for bees—and your cue that nectar is coming in.”

🌸 Native & Cultivated Wildflowers

By mid to late spring, wildflowers and native blooms begin to pop. These not only support honey bees, but also wild pollinators and native bee species.

Bee-Loved Blooms (April–May):

• Oregon Grape (Mahonia spp.) – Bright yellow and loaded with nectar.

• Camassia (Camas) – Native to moist meadows, blooming in late April–May.

• Lupine, Balsamroot, Larkspur – More common in wild meadows, but incredible nectar producers.

• Early blooming herbs – Chives, thyme, rosemary, and sage add a bonus nectar source to your garden.

🌿 Mark’s Tip: “Plant for the bees! Adding native and early-blooming flowers to your garden helps kickstart the season and supports biodiversity.”

🐝 How to Know the Flow Is On

Not sure if the nectar’s really flowing? Here are signs your bees are finding something sweet:

✅ Heavy traffic at the entrance
✅ Bees coming in with full pollen baskets
✅ Fresh white wax being drawn
✅ Nectar glistening in open comb
✅ The hive gains weight rapidly
✅ That sweet, fermented smell at the hive entrance

💡 Bonus Tip: A strong nectar flow can replace the need for syrup feeding. If your bees are flying hard and building fast, it’s time to super up and let them store the surplus!

📓 Make a Bloom Calendar

One of the best habits you can develop as a beekeeper is keeping track of local bloom times year after year.

• Note what blooms and when in your area

• Record weather patterns and how they affect forage

• Track nectar flows alongside your hive inspections

Over time, you’ll start to recognize patterns that will help you predict the season, plan your splits, and maximize honey production.

🌼 Mark’s Tip: “Your bees already know the rhythm of the land—tuning into their cues makes you a more intuitive and successful beekeeper.”

🐝 Final Thought

Paying attention to what’s blooming in your region is about more than just flowers—it’s about reading the landscape, syncing with your bees, and celebrating the beautiful relationship between pollinators and plants.

So the next time you see a field of dandelions, a blooming apple tree, or a humming bigleaf maple—know that it’s not just spring. It’s the start of the nectar flow.

Let’s 🐝 Curious and bloom with the bees together.

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🌿 Want to learn more?
Check out our foraging workshops, pollinator-friendly plant guides, and Edu-🐝 videos at
🔗 www.theforagingbee.ca