Is hawthorn a good source of pollen and nectar?

why is hawthorn so fickle, yielding a good honey crop
one year but nothing for many succeeding years, even under ap-
parently favourable weather conditions?
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Crataegus monogyna, C.oxyacantha: Rosaceae (Plate 12)

The Hawthorn, May or Whitethorn is one of our most common native
shrubs or small trees. Its strongly scented white blossoms that appear
about the middle of May are familiar to everyone. It and will grow in
sun or shade which it avoids. Often it is the where it sometimes
becomes far too prevalent for the farmer's liking. Its virtues as a
hedge plant are well recognized and as a farm hedge or fence plant it
stands is far from being a fastidious plant and in all soils except
acid peat only shrub to be seen in pastures, supreme.

As a bee plant the hawthorn is notoriously fickle, being a good source
of nectar in some seasons but not in others or in some districts but
not others. Attempts to correlate this with soil or with moisture and
temperature conditions have not so far met with success and the
reasons for this fickleness remain obscure at present. The seasons
when hawthorn is a good honey source only come round at long
intervals. In some parts of the country 1943 was a good year as were
1911 and 1933.

Sometimes hawthorn blossoms will be worked well and yield honey freely
in one area while a mile or two away under apparently similar
conditions the blossoms may be deserted by bees. In a district which
gives a good hawthorn flow one year the flowers for several succeeding
years may offer little attraction. When the flow from hawthorn does
occur it is usually very rapid and the smell of the flowers is easily
detected in the hives while the nectar is being brought in.

In the hawthorn flower the nectar is secreted by the receptacle or
base and is half concealed. In cold or dull weather the inner stamens
remain curved inwards but open out in sunshine exposing the nectar
more fully.

There are two species of hawthorn, although the differences between
them are slight and they seem to be of similar value as bee
plants. Crataegus monogyna is the more abundant and widespread
species, C.oxyacantha being confined more to the south-east of the
country. The numerous ornamental forms of May with pink or red flowers
attract bees when the flowers are single, but not the double forms. So
also do the flowers of several introduced species of Crataegus, mainly
from North America, which are sometimes grown in gardens or as street
trees.

Honey from hawthorn is of very high quality. It is usually a dark
amber in colour, very thick and of an appetizing rich flavour. Owing
to its dark colour and density it has been mistaken for heather honey
at honey shows. It is not usually bright or sparkling and sometimes
has a greenish tinge which detracts from its appearance. The flavour
has been described in various ways, although always favourable, such
as exquisite, nutty or suggestive of almond.

Usually hawthorn blossoms do not appear until those of apple some
seasons flowering overlaps. The resulting procurable, which is a blend
of apple and hawthorn, are over but in honey, when is considered to be
one of the finest flavoured that could be desired (Tickner Edwardes).

The pale whitish pollen of hawthorn is freely collected by bees and is
often found in honey. The individual grain is similar,
microscopically, to that of apple and rose.

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