Is spring getting coiled to be sprung

[Swn58]

I’ve just finished painting my poly stuff and made up frames ready for foundation or bamboo skewers as house arrest has given me lots of time this year! This is my first year when ”being ready” (except for the things I’ve overlooked) so I know how you feel to up against it.
Your profile says more than 20 hives where I have only four too, so all you need to do is learn to cope with three hours sleep per night

I'm going into this season with seventeen hives from a high season total of twenty two. Wasps, dying queens and amalgamations give me that total.
Last season was the beginning of me setting up to actually build a business. This year I hope to be expanding on what I have. I will be doing as many natural splits as possible early on. Queens I have will be 'false-swarmed' into nucs, then back to new hives when their entourage is strong enough. The farm apiary had terrible wasp problems last year. I realise that colonies have to be very strong heading into late summer down there.
I aim to grow at least six 'superhives' so I have enough bees to populate new nucs. I am going to 'chequerboard' these hives with double brood boxes. There will be a lot of feeding, to ensure that they have all the stores necessary.
This season was going to have been a case of slow expansion and another one of relying on honey sales. However, I am about to receive an unexpected cash-injection, that could put me a season ahead of where I thought I would be. It will enable me to be actually selling nucs and queens by next season. A good deal of luck and weather permitting of course!
On the equipment front, my aim is to buy twenty poly-nucs. Most likely Abelo, as the BS ones seem to be in short supply. As for hives. At the moment I have fifteen paradise, two still boxed! I also have several wooden nationals many not used at the moment.
I am still looking for 'the' poly-hive though! Again, the new BS hive looks great, but they are asking for pre-orders in April. I fear it will not give me the time to prep them, even if I manage to get some in the first place. I could be looking at buying at least ten units and would not be happy if they attempted to 'ration' me!
I like the look of the new Abelo hives as well though, so the jury is still out. I also need a new honey extractor. A twelve-framer will help greatly. I don't want to experience last years harvest, with my old four-framer, again!

 

[F.F.Stung]

Garden hives bringing back loads of pollen today with many bees working the Hellebores (I have at least 60 plants) . Also saw a queen wasp sucking up nectar from an hellebore flower . By time I got my camera from the house the wasp had gone otherwise would have posted a pic. Maybe it will come back and I will be quicker off the mark next time.

She thought you had gone for a hammer. Having lost three small hives to wasp aggression, Autumn before last, I send any I see to pastures new

 

[smitten]

Himalayan Balsam all germinating now.... mixed feelings on that one as I'm sure it saved last year's harvest.

 

[ericbeaumont]

the A3 yesterday morning was bright white in the sun

Drove past the same trees last week, Neil. Reckon traffic heat advances flowering; saw blackberry for the first time last year at a roundabout on the A13, out Dagenham way.

 

[ericbeaumont]

The farm apiary had terrible wasp problems last year.

I believe it was Amari who said that 2020 was the worst for wasps he'd seen in forty years. Terrible in parts here, as well, and I won't be making 3 frame nucs again late in the year.

Let's hope that the sharp cold this winter has reduced overwintering queens; I do love wasps but can do without the expensive struggle to outwit them.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Further to my last - should have looked out the study window really - this one crack willow opposite Brynmair is always a few weeks ahead of the rest - noticed one at the opposite side of the valley also in full bloom, not the best of pictures, but the sun decided to hide for a while
View attachment 24917View attachment 24918
Then the amazing thing about this little bud is it is on the neighbouring tree which was hached down last autumn by the council to help with road visibility, it's just laid down there and the cut end is totally exposed and not in contact whith the ground or anything - yet there are buds on it that are about to open
View attachment 24919

We are about 2/3 weeks behind this year in comparison we had willow flowering on the 20th of March 2020.
We are feeding syrup a bit now

I'm going into this season with seventeen hives from a high season total of twenty two. Wasps, dying queens and amalgamations give me that total.
Last season was the beginning of me setting up to actually build a business. This year I hope to be expanding on what I have. I will be doing as many natural splits as possible early on. Queens I have will be 'false-swarmed' into nucs, then back to new hives when their entourage is strong enough. The farm apiary had terrible wasp problems last year. I realise that colonies have to be very strong heading into late summer down there.
I aim to grow at least six 'superhives' so I have enough bees to populate new nucs. I am going to 'chequerboard' these hives with double brood boxes. There will be a lot of feeding, to ensure that they have all the stores necessary.
This season was going to have been a case of slow expansion and another one of relying on honey sales. However, I am about to receive an unexpected cash-injection, that could put me a season ahead of where I thought I would be. It will enable me to be actually selling nucs and queens by next season. A good deal of luck and weather permitting of course!
On the equipment front, my aim is to buy twenty poly-nucs. Most likely Abelo, as the BS ones seem to be in short supply. As for hives. At the moment I have fifteen paradise, two still boxed! I also have several wooden nationals many not used at the moment.
I am still looking for 'the' poly-hive though! Again, the new BS hive looks great, but they are asking for pre-orders in April. I fear it will not give me the time to prep them, even if I manage to get some in the first place. I could be looking at buying at least ten units and would not be happy if they attempted to 'ration' me!
I like the look of the new Abelo hives as well though, so the jury is still out. I also need a new honey extractor. A twelve-framer will help greatly. I don't want to experience last years harvest, with my old four-framer, again!

How things can change with what you had plans for in a short space of time.
We are 2/3 weeks behind with the forage up here at home but just 2 miles away down yonder valley there is willow, blackthorn, gean cherry, larrel, bay, all crucus, daffs, hyacinths, Bell Heather flowering really well to.
Im feeding syrup to some and fondant has just gone on to some colonys.
The variation between apairys at 1000ft in altitude is very interesting to observe.

 

[Fiona in South View]

It’s the little things in life. Been out to have a look today and this time there are so many bees I can hear the tree humming as I approach. Such a thrill!

 

[Swn58]

The variation between apairys at 1000ft in altitude is very interesting to observe.

Well....your area does look a bit wilder than the rather 'twee' gently rolling hills and quiet woodlands of Warwickshire!

 

[Swn58]

I do love wasps but can do without the expensive struggle to outwit them.

I don't like killing any animal nowadays, unless it's totally necessary. However, I have never seen such concerted attacks on my hives before. Before I realised what was happening, I lost two colonies and a nuc. I will have to make wasp traps for the apiary this season, but hope I can attract them away and any hornets, by setting up feeding stations for them around the wood. Maybe I'm being too naïve?
Last year their was a beautiful wasps nest in a neighbours shed, only a few dozen yards away. They caused no trouble and let us watch them coming and going without attacking. Some of my bees are not that well behaved!