April's Plant of the Month

Here in northern Minnesota, spring is a long time coming.  Some years spring comes in March other years May.  Until I moved to Alaska in the 80s, August was the only month I hadn't experienced snow in Minnesota. On an August Caribou hunting back in the 80s, I got stranded in the mountains south of Fairbanks for 2 days beyond my scheduled stay. I digress....  The 3 mile radius around the apiary is the area I like to call the "Bee Pasture". That's some 18 thousand acres of forage space.  So, depending on the year's spring, Willow is most often, if not the first, to provide resources for the Honey bee to access.  Both pollen and nectar can be found in abundance.  In Minnesota we have some 18 different species of Willow.  The most common in the northern parts of this state are the Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) and the Bebb's Willow (Salix bebbiana).  These two Willows are often confused for one another.

In the American Honey Plant book by Frank C. Pellet quotes are study done by Prof. J. Davidson of British Columbia.  Prof Davidson states that willows can produce 8-15 pounds of honey to a hive.  Naturally, that statement depends on weather and the abundance of willow in your bee pasture.

More images of the Willows and other plants that typically bloom in the month of April in NW Minnesota see the Bee Pasture Gallery

Read more about Bebb's willows or the Pussy Willow