Bringing beekeepers together in Middle Tennessee since 1952

Nashville Area Beekeepers Association

What’s Blooming

NABA’s Plants for Pollinators group presents a Plant of the Month at each NABA meeting. Below is information on previous months’ entries.

Take a look at the NABA list of What’s Blooming In & Around Nashville. Originally prepared by NABA member Elizabeth Dilley, this is an ever-growing guide to help beekeepers know where the honey bees might be gathering honey at any time of the year. They are arranged by month based on either when the plants begin blooming or are a dominant nectar source. Captions indicate the date of the photo, the location (zip code), and the photographer. Click on a photo for a larger view. All rights are reserved by the respective photographers.

Remember that an individual honey bee typically will work only one type of blossom at a time and will share information on that nectar source with her sisters. So a colony will tend to gather nectar from the most abundant crop available until the nectar flow ceases for those blossoms. Then they will move on to another type of blossom. This often means you won’t find honey bees on small crops such as flower or vegetable gardens.

Reference books for identification of weeds, flowers, trees, etc.

January & February
Mahonia

 

 

 

1-20-2017, 37205, Ian Dawe

Forsythia

 

 

 

3-30-14, 42120, @Swarmcatcher

Dandelion

 

 

 

4-3-16, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Henbit
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japonica
   
     
March
Spirea

 

 

 

5-20-11, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Red-bud

 

 

 

3-19-12, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Cherry-ornamental

 

 

 

3-27-16, 42120, @Swarmcatcher

Purple Deadnettle

 

 

 

4-3-16, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Red maple

 

 

 

2-23-14, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

 Canola

 

 

 

3-25-16, 37188, @Swarmcatcher

Elm
Dogwood
Buttercup
Periwinkle
Daffodils
Serviceberry
Wild plum
Chickweed
Tulip tree
Crocus
Willow
Pussywillow
     
April
Apples

 

 

 

4-21-14, 42120, @Swarmcatcher

Little Dutch White Clover

 

 

 

5-26-16, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Thrift Black Locust

 

 

 

4-8-12, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

 Holly

 

 

 

4-7-11, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Strawberries
Mouse ear Chickweed
Wild Sweet William
Pear
Wild Mustard
Cherry
Violets
Primrose
Lilacs
Spring Larkspur
Wild Cherry
Iris
Grape Hyacinth
Lunaria(money plant)
Hyacinth(garden)
Azalea
Elaegnus Angusfolia
     
May
Sedum

 

 

 

8-25-16, 37141, @Swarmcatcher

Privet Hedge

 

 

 

5-7-15, 39440, @Swarmcatcher

Blackberry

 

 

 

5-7-16, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Tartarian Honeysuckle

 

 

 

3-22-14, 37203, @Swarmcatcher

Crimson Clover

 

 

 

4-24-16, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Tulip poplar

 

 

 

4-8-12, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Salvia

 

 

 

10-8-12, 37205, @Swarmcatcher

Elderberry
Dutchman’s Breeches
Yarrow
Persimmon
Jewelweed
Moth Mullein
Swamp Saxifrage
Cornflower
Purple Vetch
Crown Vetch
Magnolia
Queen Anne’s Lace
Alfalfa
Laurel
Day Lily
Raspberries
Lespedeza
Wild Bergamont (bee balm)
Fringed Phacelia
Daisy Fleabane
Ground Ivy
Venus looking glass
Thistle
Star chickweed
Lyre-leaf sage
Yellow Goatsbeard
Purple Vetch
Fire 
Pink
 
     

 

 

 

June
Borage

 

 

 

7-4-14, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Vitex

 

 

 

6-29-16, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Mints

 

 

 

9-10-14, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Ohio Spiderwort

 

 

 

6-15-16, 37205, Ian Dawe

Abelia
Basswood (Linden)
Beans
Chicory
White Sweet Clover Stickweed
 Hobble bush
Sourwood
Sunflower
Squash
Cucumbers
Melons
     
July
Purple Loosestrife

 

 

 

8-18-12, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Lavender

 

 

 

7-15-16, 42101, @Swarmcatcher

 Crape Myrtle

 

 

 

8-31-14, 42120, @Swarmcatcher

Asiatic Dayflower
Buckbrush
Smartweed
Poke weed
Plantain
 Mimosa
Jimson weed
Tall Bellflower
Althea
 
     
August
Clematis

 

 

 

9-4-10, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Wild phlox
Joe-pye weed
Ironweed
Wildsenna
Passion flower
Golden Rain tree
Sunflowers
 
     
September
Asters

 

 

 

9-16-16, 42164, @Swarmcatcher

Goldenrod

 

 

 

10-15-15, 37901, @Swarmcatcher

Chrysanthemum

 

 

 

11-9-11, 37049, @Swarmcatcher

Blazing Star
Virginia Copper leaf
Beggar Weed
Spanish needle
Japanese Bamboo
Black-eyed Susan
Ceresua
Ragweed
Boneset
 
     
OctoberNovember & December
Elaegnus pungens