Recent content by Plastics

Time is up for the boys in this hive

Agree - very sensible advice - in most instances I find eggs and a newly laying queen about 4 days after adding a test frame at 4 weeks - be patient although the temptation to peek becomes progressively more irresistible!

Grazing I assume as this am there is a flock of sheep munching their through it!

Field of white mustard in flower across the road - girls going crazy and mid-November!

Be careful what you wish for - sometimes best to let sleeping dogs lie Never underestimate the ability of government to generate ever more restrictions Remember : “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help” In no way will altering...

Cinnabar moth larvae making short work of ragwort in back field

Same here - let the field grow and ended up with masses of suffocating perennial grasses, giant hogweed, thistles and ragwort Topped it in the Autumn and have sown yellow rattle - let’s see what happens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinanthus_minor “Yellow rattle is used to create or restore...

planted a load of buckwheat near the hives - covered in bumble bees, hover flies and every other flying insect except honey bees!

Brood pattern - nice; temperament - appalling

Used this company last year - quick delivery also do soft fondant https://www.chocolatefalls.co.uk/ingredients/sugars/12.5kg-hard-white-fondant?cPath=5773&

No; not blackthorn - blackthorn out in profusion now; cherry plum was out about a fortnight before https://www.treeguideuk.co.uk/blackthorn-flowers/

Girls going bonkers - whole row of cherry plum to go at

Apiguard 3rd week of 4; foraging like mad - loads of ivy outside apiary: and beyond that a field of this: A field of scarlet and Alsike (Swedish) clover

I think you may have missed the heavy dose of irony in my reply!

the bees spend all spring and summer collecting and processing nectar to build up stores for the winter only to have most or all of it stolen and eaten/flogged off by humans; in return they have to start all over again or get given some cheap stuff shipped over from god knows where or dug up...