Recent content by NickDub

Hard to tell from the photo - are the bees on branches which are live ie part of a tree or shrub or dead limbs which are already cut ? If the branches can be picked up one at a time, you can just knock most of them off in to a cardboard box - you'll lose any comb they've already made and they...

The main considerations for siting a hive are :- a) access for the bee-keeper - honey is heavy, lifting stuff from awkward places is a risk for your back b) keeping bees away from flying in to other people - getting friends family and neighbors stung is not popular - bees fly up usually, so...

No reason why not as long as ;- 1) the support under the bottom hive is adequate for the total weight and 2) you tie the whole lot down somehow, so that it can't blow over. The main drawback I can see is moving the nuc later on - the usual 3 foot or 3 miles rule of thumb would apply.

If you would like a more precise answer than the likely ones already given, then a reasonably good photo of one of the bees will settle the matter.

looks pretty - the bees love it - doesn't provide much that's edible for the gardener.

I know - its what I do myself, in fact I built a special cold shed with a grass turf roof in to the bank on the North side of my cottage for just that purpose - however it all takes work and money to set up. So you do need to be realistic, 2 or 3 boxes of apples bought from a local fruit farm...

Rather depends on how much work you want to do - fruit trees are a good answer if you like apples, plums etc - you need them far enough apart to be able to mow underneath and not so tall that you break your neck climbing 40 foot ladders to pick them. They need a bit of knowledgeable care when...

I got two swarms in the sunny weather the other week - one picked up in a neighbor's garden, one in an empty hive. I missed one call, as I was out, and another keeper took those. Nothing in the last 10 days.

Still looks like Pyracantha to me from the leaves - should be an easy enough job to tell, if/when it develops berries.

Bit hard to see - really need a close-up of flowers and leaves - might it be a Pyracantha ?

Mowed my "lawn" today - usually leave it a bit longer for the white clover but this year the bees don't seem interested - presumably the bramble is keeping them busy.

several bees on a small patch of Rose of Sharon in my garden - I hadn't realised it was that popular - bright, dark orange pollen

I generally charge £10 if I get called to drive somewhere for a swarm, but I use a bit of discretion if it seems the money might be a problem.

Ceanothus is the most poplar plant with bees in my garden - can have upwards of 40 on it on a warm afternoon.

None too sure what my bees are working - loads of blossom out, as others have mentioned - haven't noticed a single honey-bee on any of them :-)