Recent content by Harley1

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    Moving comb in the hive

    I was interested to see your pictures. I have a couple of top bar hives, as well as a few Nationals. This year the top bar hives came through winter really well. After a few false starts with a ready made TBH a couple of years ago I moved the bees to two bigger ones based on what I liked...
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    insect apocalypse

    Like ShinySideUp, I too ride an unfaired motorcycle, sometimes over long distances. The decrease in bug splatter is very noticeable over the last two years. I've also noticed far fewer moths during summer evenings, no Hummingbird Hawk moths at all , which is the first time for 20 years, and...
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    What "inspired" your username?

    Because I used to ride a Harley. Now I ride a Triumph and a Kawasaki, but I can't be bothered to change it. However, on motorcycle forums I am always known as Beelady.
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    Shaking bees from frames - question

    I only brush if there's still a few bees when I'm removing supers above a clearer board. I pick a few big sprigs of Rosemary on my way to the hives and they seem the perfect softness to gently sweep the odd bee from the frames with no mess and the bees seem not to mind at all. Smells nice, too.
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    Wasps in the bait hive

    I found wasps had moved in to one of my bait hives. I already had my suit on so I just scooped out the nest and dumped it in the hedge bottom (as Millet suggests). No sign of any more since.
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    Queen wasps

    It's the same here. Every year I see lots of them, but the last few days there have been four or five a day. Far less hiding under the edge of hive roofs this last winter but more indoors. I only squash them if they refuse to leave the house when offered an open window.
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    What did you do in the Apiary today?

    I set up a bait hive and within two minutes had attracted a Queen wasp. Not really what I had in mind.
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    Back Garden Apiary?

    I have no neighbours and live in the country. I kept mine in the garden for 9 years, until one hive turned so nasty that I feared for dog walkers, horse riders, the postman and most of all me and my family. I removed them to my Brother's farm where they have remained ever since, with no further...
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    What's flowering as forage in your area

    I passed two fields of OSR that were absolutely yellow this morning, not far from Dover. Closer to home, just the odd few flowers, but it won't be long.
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    What bee-thing surprised you in 2018

    I was surprised that after 10 years with very little trouble with my bees, this year turned out to be the worst ever and I still haven't worked out what went wrong. I got off to a late start due to my husband's death, but was pretty sure that I had everything back under control quite soon...
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    Lack of forage

    I'm glad it's not just me. I've been a bit puzzled by the lack of forage as it's not something I've experienced before, but nearby beans have just come into flower this week and they seem to be liking that. Bramble is just starting so they should be happy for a while.
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    Osr

    I can never get enough OSR honey. I don't worry about sprays. Maybe I've been lucky but I've never noticed any problems afterwards. There's very little where my bees are now but when I kept them in the garden they were surrounded by the stuff.
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    Sad, confused and lost the plot completely.

    Thanks all, for the kind words and advice. Moral support has done the trick. I have a plan and feel as if I can go back and carry on. Visiting the bees is very comforting and a good place to find some peace, away from what seems like endless phone calls and paperwork. Hopefully there'll be no...
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    Sad, confused and lost the plot completely.

    Thanks for such a comforting reply. I think I shall go ahead, as you suggest and if it isn't ready than I haven't lost much. I only dealt with granulated honey once and don't want to do that ever again.
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