Recent content by daveandtara

no, no shrouding...just large leg basket fulls of white pollen.

mine are bringing home large amounts of almost white pollen. Might it be Himalayan balsam?

Hi, I can't answer your question I'm afraid but, being a florist, just wanted to point out that florist's oasis contains some very nasty chemicals including quite high levels of formaldehyde. There has been a lot of controversy lately surrounding it's use in our industry. Just thought I'd...

I asked my local apiarist a similar question just today and he said tray 1 = two weeks, if it's not finished when you put in tray two turn the first tray upside down so now you have two trays in there. If after a further two weeks the trays are not empty, remove the contents and scrape this...

I've never had an inspection but our local inspector gave a lecture on our course. He told us that the only thing people need to provide (and very often don't) is somewhere safe to empty his smoker! He seemed a lovely bloke, really enthusiastic and knowledgeable! Tara.

Thanks, I think I will make one for wasp protection next year then. As for this year,I may be being naive but I think the robbing may have stopped. I replaced the entrance block with a solid piece of cedar that had two 7mm holes drilled into it on Saturday evening. I did an inspection...

Up until last week my bees were stuffing themselves silly with 'golden rod' sorry, I don't know the proper name but it was absolutely heaving with bees. Tara.

Thanks for the link! and thanks to Mr Meldrew! That looks like a marvellous contraption! I have restricted the entrance to 2 x 7mm holes and am feeding under cover of darkness but the attacks continue. I'll get Dave to make me one of those when he gets in. Thanks again, Tara.

Please, can you direct me to this advice? I have tried search but cannot find any reference to it. Is this device useful against robber bees as well as wasps? Only I fear my colony may be losing the battle. Tara

I'm certainly no expert but doesn't thymol based varroa treatment put queenie off for a short while? Tara

Hi, I'm brand new and this is my first post. Someone earlier in this thread asked what is the difference between a book and a forum? Well I think they are very different! Books don't make little jokes, tell you it's happened to them, reassure that it wasn't something you did or tell you off for...