The Top Ten Bee Plants in S.W. Ontario- in order of appearance
#1 Willow spp. March, April, May Pollen and nectar
#2 Deciduous Trees Nectar and Pollen Maple Black Locust
Silver and Red maples -April
Red maple
Norway Maple – late April
Sugar Maple - early May
Black Locust (Acacia) – Nectar Early June
#3 Dandelion April and May, Nectar and Pollen
#4 Canola May and June, Pollen and Nectar
#5 White (Dutch) Clover June and July, Nectar and Pollen
#6 Basswood and Linden Trees June and July, Nectar
#7 Birdsfoot Trefoil June and July, Nectar
#8 Alfalfa June, July and August Nectar Leafcutter Bee Harvesting
#9 Milkweed July and August, Nectar and Pollen
#10 Goldenrod August an September, N. and P.
Vipers Bugloss June to September, N. and P.
Purple Loosestrife July and August, Pollen and Nectar
Joe- Pye Weed
Jewelweed
Common Garden Flowers attractive to bees
Crocus
Grape Hyacinth
Sunflower
Cosmos
Anise Hyssop
Mountain Bluet
Goatsbeard
Turtleheads
Stonecrop
Herbs edible and ornamental Sage
Herbs Lavendar Mint
Herbs Thyme Coriander
Shrubs Beauty Bush Honey suckle
Shrubs Weigela Sumac
Trees Crabapple Catalpa
Forget-me- not 78.2% Buckthorn 15.9 Dandelion 2% Apple 1.1 Willow 1.1 Mustard 0.3 Viburnum 0.3 Clover 0.1 Wild red cherry 0.1 Birds foot trefoil 0.1 Rasberry 0.1 Strawberry 0.1 Horse –chestnut 0.1 Pollen Analysis for Willowbee May 21, 2010
May 28, 2010 Forget-me-not 42.3% Buckthorn 18.2 Compositae 1 ? 10.3 Compositae 2 ? 7.7 Clover 5.8 Birds foot trefoil 4.7 Apple 3.o Raspberry 2.3 Mustard 1.6 Vipers bugloss 0.9% Willow 0.5 Honeysuckle 0.5 Wild cherry 0.2
July 5, 2010 Forget-me-not 37.5% Buckthorn 18.4 Birds foot trefoil 15.8 Unknown Mustard 4.8 Blackberry 4.6 Clover 3.8 Vipers Bugloss 3.6 Elderberry 3.1 Basswood 1.8% Sumac 0.3 Jewelweed 0.3 Vetch 0.3 Holly 0.3
July8, 2010 Birds foot trefoil 72.3% Buckthorn 12.4 Forget-me-not 7.3 Unknown Vipers bugloss 1.6 Mustard 1.1 Clover 0.8 Blackberry 0.3 Basswood 0.3
July 19, 2010 Birds foot trefoil 39% Forget –me- not 31 Buckthorn 12.5 Vipers bugloss 4.6 Unknown Sumac 2.3 Blackberry 1.9 Elderberry 1.2 Clover 0.9 Mustard 0.5% Vetch 0.2 Basswood 0.2 Lilac 0.2 Horse-chestnut 0.2
July 27, 2010 Birds foot trefoil 71.9% Unknown 1 6.9% Mustard 6.2 Buckthorn 4.0 Clover 3.2 Soya 3.2 Vipers bugloss 2.0 Vetch 1.5 Forget-me-not 1.0 Choke cherry 0.2
September 9, 2010 Birds foot trefoil 42.1% Joe-pye Weed 19.4 Buckthorn 9.3 Clover 5.5 Golden rod 5.5 Forget-me-not 5.3 Unknown Purple loosestrife 3.5 Mustard 2.3% Soya 1.0 Ragweed 0.8 Vipers bugloss 0.8 Basswood 0.3 Jewelweed 0.3 Buckwheat 0.3