posted 57 minutes ago
I got the bees for the third time - two previous installations were failures due to leaking roofs of the beehives. I have dedicated winter months to build 3 top bar hives from redwood and eucalyptus with rabbet joints, oversized roofs, tung oil finish and stainless fittings. Doing it I have realized that summer and fall months are devoid of sufficient amount of flowers here. I decided to plant some best native nectar producers:
California Buckwheat Eriogonum fasciculatum 1/2 lb
White Sage Salvia apiana 1/4 lb
I have also purchased California Poppy Eschscholzia californica. Not a serious producer, but iconic and pretty.
The first two are drought resistant (crucial, because I will not water them at all) and bloom in hot months. I have spread all seeds in early February in my orchard between tree rows. Additionally I have added buckwheat between my figs in my two fig and grape gardens.
So far only poppies have grown and bloomed, because they need the lowest germination temperature from these three (around 65 F) and are easiest to propagate. I'm really counting on buckwheat though, as buckwheat honey is one of my favorite (I do not know if it tastes the same as European version) and the bushy plant is loaded with flowers.
If they grow I will share some images.
I'm going to plant more native wildflowers in the next rain season.
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