June gap

The June gap occurs in Ireland and Great Britain when there is a shortage of forage available for honey bees, typically occurring in June.

Subsequent to the massive volume of pollen and nectar produced by trees and hedges in the spring, there is a reduction in the amount of nectar available to the bees due to long grasses suppressing many wildflowers.

[1] Before the herbaceous "summer rush" of July-through-September which reinstates the high level of nectar, the high hive populations brought around by trees in the spring struggle to produce honey and may lay fewer eggs.

[2] Annual weather patterns can cause this event to occur later or earlier.

Some plants which can provide nectar in this gap are Cotoneaster, the closely related Pyracantha, common garden [herbs], and perennial garden plants.