Acacia, commonly known as the Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a known nectar tree of warmer climates. The time of its blooming depends mainly on how early or late the spring starts. The first blossoms could open in early days of May, but its blooming could start as late as June. The acacia pasture is fairly reliable and abundant and in ideal weather conditions, it could even offer record yield. I take my bees to this type of pasture in Primorska and Prekmurje at Goričko.
Dandelion, various species of willow tree and other spring flowers is the first bee pasture available. It mainly depends on the size of the bee colonies and the fickle spring weather. In favourable weather conditions, the bees could start first filling the combs with honey. This type of pasture is also great for strengthening of bee colonies prior to other pastures. I take advantage of this pasture in my home surroundings.
The bees on forest pasture collect nectar and honeydew on various sorts of trees and forest undergrowth. The honey from this pasture is therefore fairly diverse, depending on the predominant species of plants in it. My bees take advantage of this type of pasture throughout Slovenia.
The Silver fir tree (Abies alba Mill.) like pine tree, is paramount to Slovene apiculture. It is one of the most important bee pastures in our country and fir honey is much appreciated. The fir tree`s nectar production is quite fickle, but when it is plentiful, the fir produces more of it than any other plant. I take advantage of this pasture in fir forests on the slopes of Krim, in Dolenjske Toplice and in Javorniki at Mašun.
True chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Mill.) is a very fruitful plant for bees. Apart from nectar, it gives the bees an abundance of pollen. The long tasselled blossoms open in June and its blooming lasts until the early days of July. Chestnut tree nectaries are very sensitive and if the rain washes it a couple of times, the yield from this pasture is significantly reduced. I take advantage of the chestnut pasture in the vast chestnut forests in the area of Janče.
The ordinary pine tree (Picea excelsa Link.) is a very important tree species in apiculture. The time for the main pasture starts when elder trees are blooming and then moves to higher regions. The pasture can be plentiful and in favourable conditions, the bees can fill the food chamber several times. For this type of pasture, I take my bees to the slopes of Kamnik-Savinja Alps.
Lipa (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) in lipovec (Tilia cordata Mill.) rasteta v naših listnatih gozdovih po vsej Sloveniji. Lipa cveti v juniju, običajno dober teden po cvetenju akacije. Lipovec cveti nekoliko pozneje, njegovo cvetenje se lahko zavleče do začetka cvetenja pravega kostanja. Obe vrsti sta zelo občutljivi za medenje in medita dobro le takrat, ko je v zemlji in zraku dovolj vlage, ko so nočne in dnevne temperature dovolj visoke in ko je popolno brezveterje. To pašo s svojimi čebelami izkoriščam na Tolminskem.
