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
October, November & December
Elaegnus pungens