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tray not try, though I guess I'm very trying :-)

The weather in Cornwall for the past three weeks has been wet and cold without a break so I kept reading the advice on here, so long as they have feed or stores (which both my colonies did - fondant in December, liquid in February) DON'T open up to try to inspect. Today is lovely, warm and...

thanks all, have passed messages on.

a friend has some solitary bees in holes in a bed in her garden where she wants to plant bulbs. she doesn't want to harm the bees (or get stung). any advice on what to do please. thanks

Cazza - my suit's great no stings there but I've had one each year on my hands despite wearing leather/cloth long gloves and changing them regularly!

Thanks Muswell, I didn't want to appear argumentative when I was asking for advice, but the fist thing I did (before even my original post) was to check the manufacturers website (to confirm that I was stupid and had put it on upside down :-). I too saw the but about an empty super which is why...

Ok Swarm, so what are you like at making roman blinds? About as good as I am at woodwork, I'd hazard a guess :-) but point made and I'll get other half on it in the morning! Thanks

I'm sure you're right ICAN but in a WBC I can't see what difference it makes if its on top of the crown board with the feed holes open and when I went in they were some already up there with it??????? Don't tell me I've got to change it again tomorrow :-( as I've always done it like that (and...

Sorted! Can't say they were pleased to see me but as they were indoors for the night, it wasn't a problem to whip apiguard tray off top of crown board, flip and return. Also got all supers back now the girls have finished their cleaning. Thanks for the kick Veg, I knew what I needed to do but...

After a great week last week in which I extracted 44lbs of honey from one hive (none from my girls in the other hive who REFUSED to even draw one super of foundation but have masses of stores in the brood box!) I think I messed up today. After I'd extracted the honey I returned the frames for...

HIi, what are you offering? I'm at Constantine and have just two hives, one quite small colony, one strong.

Got exactly the same problem with one colony. Took the QE off two weeks ago and they've still not drawn the foundation even though they're making comb on top of the brood frames where there is plenty of Brood and masses of stores. About a coupe of dozen bees are in the super but they've made no...

Yes Eggman, I am very grateful for all the helpful replies. Will go with the supering without QE idea for a few days but I'm reluctant to take off the fondant while there still munching away inside the bags. What are the implications of this??

Update from Starcanawww Thanks so much for all the good advice last week. Well, all looking ok. Did a full inspection today, couldn't do it earlier as suggested but spent weekend worrying about them!!!! Smoker working a great with firelighters from Thornes. Had spare hive set up ready(national...

Cross posted with MBC. Thanks for that. Back to basics it is. Nice clear answer.

What a lovely thing to say Swarm when I'm feeling such an idiot (congrats etc).thank you. But I've never done an AS (not least cos I've never found my queens)!!!read all about it of course. But what about my convoluted question re fondant/syrup. Does it matter if I leave fondant on and never...

Just went to my two hives in the hope of doing first proper inspection, clean up and taking off any remaining fondant and replacing with 1:1 syrup. Well smoker went out and couldn't relight and there were bees still munching away happily in the fondant bags on both hives wbc) Both were on the...

Thanks Finman, more my idea. I was thinking of hand spraying with Grazon, selective weed killer which won't affect the grass.

We're talking about a lot of dock in a 5 acre field and it affects the quality of the hay and may make the contractor not want it. Don't worry, I wouldn't dream of harming my bees but was just asking in case there is asensible solution.

Hi the field in which my hives are sited is just cut for hay once a year. There is a lot of dock this year - is there any spray that can be used that is not harmful to my bees or any particular time to spray that would be ok? Thanks