Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[jetam]

while picking elder flowers for syrup I´ve noticed that bees are not attracted to elder flowers full of pollen and nectar....

What about yours observations?

[Barbara]

We are talking elderflowers that become elderberries and not alder trees which are currently producing pollen?... Just seems like a strange time of year to ask about elder flowers when they are a summer blossom.

Anyway, assuming you do mean elder flowers (to make elder flower cordial), then I have seen honey bees working it but not in huge numbers and my guess would be that there is something else flowering at the same time which is more attractive and gives a better yield of nectar and pollen.

[jetam]

Yes, elder.... Sambucus nigra...
we use:
flowers for syrup and light wine (champagne)
berries for wine (heavy for stomac but curative) and compote
wood for reed-pipes, fujara (UNESCO heritage), didjeridoo
fresh leaves can drain water on knee....

[Barbara]

Those last two are interesting uses.
Since berries are very abundant, it would appear that plenty of other insects visit them, even when honey bees do not