Hello everyone,

My name is Jennie Alice and I am so excited to finally "join the club." I truly wish I had started years ago (this would have been a great 4-H project), but ah well . . . 2012 will have to do.

My question is: are my bees working on all the wild rhododendrons that are blooming?

They comprise about 50% of the forest here! "California Rose-bay" is the other common name for them. The FDA has an informative article about honey poisoning via rhododendron nectar.

Should I be concerned? The other 50% of the pygmy forest is huckleberry brush, which is blooming now, with the occasional giant patch of Himalayan Blackberries (also in bloom). I haven't seen my bees on the rhododendrons on our property, but they have acres and acres to choose from in the surrounding area.

Are there enough sources of nectar on the Mendocino Coast that they would collect elsewhere and ignore the rhodies?

Please let me know and thank you.

Here is a link that might be useful: FDA Article concerning honey poisoning