Carniolan Queens are usually black and all of their offspring are darker making the whole colony look dark.
When the grapes are in bloom - It smells wonderful - a very gentle fragrance from all the blossoms.
Bloom time varies a lot from Frontenac blooming earlier and the seedless grape seem to be about a week later.
Scroll Through the above images. The slideshow starts with Marquis White Seedless grapes at the "Prebloom" stage - the images advance to "Midbloom" and then to the "Berryset" stage. Many growers apply a thinning agent at midbloom and then again at 3/16 berry set stage to increase berry size.
Info - I was once asked if I have red grapes next to white grapes why the fruit would not be pink. Grapes are mostly wind pollinated and the fruit will always be true to the variety - however if you take the seeds from these grapes and plant them, the fruit of every plant would be different. That is what grape breeders do.
Info - I was asked about honeybees in the vineyard and grape honey. I rarely see honeybees in the vineyard - even during bloom. The bees must find other plants that are much more desireable than grape blossoms.
Info - Grapes do not need insect pollination - that is not why we also keep honeybees - that is a completely different endeavour. Our interest in honeybees and grape growing are completely separate.
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Honeyflow Farm is operated by Bill and Pat Schnute. Bill will be doing most of the posting on the site.
More About Out Farm...
Carniolan Queens are usually black and all of their offspring are darker making the whole colony look dark.
3 queens in small 1 inch wide wooden boxes - ready to install