Desert Flowers in Bloom

To view larger images with captions, click on the first photo (left photo)
then advance in proper sequence using the right arrow key (next) or built in control bar
< Back to FOTOS

Every few years the desert bursts into bloom - poppies flood the landscape in profusive oranges and reds, touched by dabs of bright yellow. The desert floor is covered with tiny white, purple, green, yellow, blue flowers - nothing distinguishable from a roadside drive-by but rather a paint brush's sweep until one stops to inspect closely.

And so we beekeepers head out quickly and silently into the night and early morning to set up our hives in anticipation of an abundance of nectar – all of which would be turned into honey.

 

The desert floor is covered with tiny white, purple, green, yellow, blue flowers - nothing distinguishable from a roadside drive-by but rather a paint brush's sweep until one stops to inspect closely.

 

The desert can be an inhospitable home - and yet one of the most beautiful. Once the move of the bees from one place to another has been made - the transfer at night and settling in before day break - the bees are left to 'get acquainted' with their new surroundings - we, beekeepers, return that same afternoon with water to set up the site fully

 

Klaus and I return the following day to make sure that the bees have located their water source and that there have been no intruders. He will walk the site. With 50 gallon drums of water in place the bees, under the desert sun, consumed full drums within a week's time (this being used to cool the hives through refrigeration/flapping of the wings and in thirst).

 

But alas, the bloom lasted such a short period that there was no nectar to be had, no honey to be made - the desert floor blooms dried up in the parching heat.

 

And once again, in hopes of Desert Bloom honey we bring the last (3rd) set of hives from the almond groves to try out the desert flowers – a location different from previous years. Whether we stay is under debate as the flowers abound but is there anything there for the bees to live on or make honey. The travel time from the groves is a little over 3+hours along the #99 to the #5, up and over the Grape Vine to #138.

 

< Back to FOTOS