Ivy flow has started..

[Curly green fingers]

All of my collonys at home and down by the river are on the ivy .
I wondered why they had slowed down on the syrup .
I've finished my varroa treatment 5 weeks intotal and all hives feel like there nailed to the floor . No more inspections now until next spring .
I feel a bit sad what am I going to do with my time now .

 

[gbee]

I know the feeling! I am going in one last time today because it’s a nice 19 degC sunny day, but that’s then it for the season.

 

[Bakerbee]

Our ivy is barely out yet on last dog walk but they must be on some somewhere as theyre very busy. Still taking syrup down so possibly a bit behind you curly. Ours are all battened down just need to remove apiguard next week, check on my nuc and thatll be it till trickle time. Im glad mine are in my garden as i often go and watch on a bright day in winter with a cup of coffee. I was surprised at how they still mooched about in colder temps last year. Listening to some peoples large loses last winter i just pray my fumbling care over them and their wisdom will get them through this winter.

 

[Karsal]

Ivy was out here near Preston this Sunday in the warm sunshine and full of insects. It had yet to flower in the shaded spots along the canal towpath we were walking along.

 

[Angularity]

Mine seem to be on both syrup and ivy, bringing in the yellow pollen and draining the feeders almost as soon as I fill them.

We must be posh round here, there's virtually no sugar on the shelves at Waitrose. Tescos were able to deliver some today, though.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Sat and watched a load of bees, wasps, hoverflies and flies covering ivy in Briesach, Germany today!

 

[For want of a better word]

Had the first IVY SWARM yesterday!

The Townie new to the village said she was amazed that the bees were on the IVY as she thought they only collected HONEY...........
( and my chickens crows because they is bored and I should give them some toys to play with)

Yeghes da

 

[Curly green fingers]

I would of said you should try the ivy Berry's there really good for you. And then said make sure you read up about them first though!
I'm not wanting to poison numptys..

 

[Curly green fingers]

Our ivy is barely out yet on last dog walk but they must be on some somewhere as theyre very busy. Still taking syrup down so possibly a bit behind you curly. Ours are all battened down just need to remove apiguard next week, check on my nuc and thatll be it till trickle time. Im glad mine are in my garden as i often go and watch on a bright day in winter with a cup of coffee. I was surprised at how they still mooched about in colder temps last year. Listening to some peoples large loses last winter i just pray my fumbling care over them and their wisdom will get them through this winter.

I plan to do a trickle treatment I've Cristal's left from last year.
I've noticed the ivy is flowering more in places than others. And I think we are at the start of the ivy flow let's hope the weather stays good .
I only had one collony last winter and they were covered in snow drifts on three occasions.
The weather on cleehill can be very harsh compared to down in the valley.
But this collony have swarmed at the end of April. And are now on brood/half 10 seems of bee's 5 are bias. The half there's 8 seems of bee's and 5 bias .
Stores 4 full brood frames of honey .and 5 in the half .
So there's about 20 to 25lb in the brood and about 15lb in the half .
They have some space for the ivy..

 

[Popparand]

Sat and watched a load of bees, wasps, hoverflies and flies covering ivy in Briesach, Germany today!

Blimey. You must have good eyesight, mate.

 

[drex]

Still waiting here. Buds are well formed but not open yet. Will not feed anymore now as they usually cover the ivy.

 

[Etton]

Saw first bees on ivy here in East Yorks.
Wasps have been on for quite a few days previously.

 

[REDWOOD]

Same here, and still hammering the balsam

 

[Curly green fingers]

Question I've two supers removed 5 days ago the middle two frames in both supers are runny honey the rest are set rock hard . I've no heater cabinet it's wired foundation
What are my options, I wanted to extract for home use ideas pls.

 

[Murox]

Try an empty super with a fan heater in it then stack your "rock hard" supers/frames on top, don't be in a hurry though let warm up carefully.

Or get ruthless ....................

 

[Curly green fingers]

Try an empty super with a fan heater in it then stack your "rock hard" supers/frames on top, don't be in a hurry though let warm up carefully.

Or get ruthless ....................

I'm a bit worried about melting all the wax in the frames I've a fan heater though .
I didn't really want to cut all the comb out but if needs must .
I thought osr set quickly but ivy is something else.
Cheers mark..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Are you sure it's ivy? if it's ivy honey - leave it for the bees. It's an acquired taste anyway

 

[Curly green fingers]

It's definitely ivy and Hb honey it's been taken of now. I could keep it and feed it back to them.
I would like to try it. My hives by the teme have lots of stores so it won't be needed untill next year.
After watching the hives today there's still a ivy flow .

 

[For want of a better word]

Are you sure it's ivy? if it's ivy honey - leave it for the bees. It's an acquired taste anyway

Tastes like baby sick... from an experienced father & grandfather!!!


Chons da

 

[enrico]

Christ!!!! Why do you eat your baby's sick?