Newbie from Alaska

[AKbuzz]

Wife and I are 1st year beekepers. We have 2 hives in the Matsu region of Alaska. We did a year preparing and then jumped in this spring.

Started out with 2 Alaska Honey Bee queens in packages on bare foundation. Both hives started out well and one is going strong. The other lost it's queen ( squished or rejected?) and so far the new queen is doing well but the hive is understandably lagging the other.

Here to read and learn.

 

[Aneebe]

Wife and I are 1st year beekepers. We have 2 hives in the Matsu region of Alaska. We did a year preparing and then jumped in this spring.

Started out with 2 Alaska Honey Bee queens in packages on bare foundation. Both hives started out well and one is going strong. The other lost it's queen ( squished or rejected?) and so far the new queen is doing well but the hive is understandably lagging the other.

Here to read and learn.

Whenever I complain that Ireland is cold, I must remember that there can be chillier places out there! I hope you share photos of your surroundings in due course. Looking forward to hearing how you get on

 

[Erichalfbee]

Welcome. Please share your beekeeping with us. Are you in the National Park? I always wanted to visit. The nearest I got was a drive from Whitehorse to Dawson City then across to a place called Tok then on to Anchorage. A lifetime ago.

 

[enrico]

Hi, welcome. look forward to hearing your news. This is becoming quite a world wide forum now

 

[Ely]

Hi. Are your summers hot and short? Similar to Scandinavia?

 

[jimmiestan]

Welcome, AK, as semi-newbees, we've found this forum most useful!

 

[Cuckmere couple]

welcome....interesting to follow your progress...do you have varroa in Alaska?

 

[AKbuzz]

welcome....interesting to follow your progress...do you have varroa in Alaska?

Unfortunately, yes we have varroa. Treated with oxalic acid vapor shortly after packages installed.

 

[AKbuzz]

Hi. Are your summers hot and short? Similar to Scandinavia?

Short and fast. Maybe hot. Maybe rainy.

 

[AKbuzz]

Welcome. Please share your beekeeping with us. Are you in the National Park? I always wanted to visit. The nearest I got was a drive from Whitehorse to Dawson City then across to a place called Tok then on to Anchorage. A lifetime ago.

No not in the Nat. Park.

We're about 50 miles North of Anchorage.

Have a cabin about another 150 miles north. Nice view of Denali. Someday might move hives up for the summer of I build a good tall stand to keep the bears away.

 

[AKbuzz]

Whenever I complain that Ireland is cold, I must remember that there can be chillier places out there! I hope you share photos of your surroundings in due course. Looking forward to hearing how you get on

Not too terribly cold here once you're used to it. The short bit of sun we have is what gets hard on a person in winter.

 

[Erichalfbee]

keep the bears away.

Yes....and we worry about varroa!

 

[pargyle]

Yes....and we worry about varroa!

I don't have a problem with bears ..the sign keeps them away ..

 

[AKbuzz]

Busy bees today. Gorgeous sunny weather. Lots of dandelions and the Mayday trees are absolutely humming and buzzing when you stand under them.

 

[Michael Palmer]

Welcome. Please share your beekeeping with us. Are you in the National Park? I always wanted to visit. The nearest I got was a drive from Whitehorse to Dawson City then across to a place called Tok then on to Anchorage. A lifetime ago.

Yes, Tok Junction. Was there in 1970. Hitchhiking to Alaska. As you say, a lifetime ago.

 

[AKbuzz]

The dandelions are past their peak and the Mayday trees bloomed out, but the wildflowers are abundant now.