One of mine swarmed yesterday

[Marvin]

6 closed queen cells.

They only went as far as the hedge so we got them into a new hive.

Onwards and upwards, this year it's all going to be different...

 

[drstitson]

when had you last inspected?

 

[dickbowyer]

when had you last inspected?

More than 8 days ago!

That said with a full brood box it is not too hard to miss charged queen cups on an inspection and I am living proof!

 

[The Riviera Kid]

Blimey! That's early! When I inspected last week, one of my queens hadn't even started laying. The other other three had small patches of brood on a couple of frames...

It feels like a slower start than last year...

 

[For want of a better word]

There seems to be a East West divide !
and a North South... SNOW in Scocia yesterday !... thick mist over the Tamar this morning

 

[beehive1234]

.

 

[beehive1234]

What I was trying to say, (alas my mobile phone wouldn't let me,) is,

Perhaps the bees are sencing a lack of water in some regions?

 

[susbees]

Three inches snow this morning...snuck in from NE so very patchy...cherry and damson trees in full flower....

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[The Riviera Kid]

I saw some rape in full flower on my way to Yorkshire at the weekend. The fields I ride by on my way home are still just starting to turn yellow.

In the midlands we've not had it as wet as my friends in the west country have... but we've had more rain than East Anglia. When we were in Norfolk in mid March the ground was rock hard and cracked at field edges when we went for a walk.

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Starting to come out in seriousness around my part of the E Mids

 

[busybee53]

Good point WWBees. We have had hardly any rain here for weeks, except a shower last night. My bees are relying on trees with deep roots and people to water their garden flowers. I have been wondering whether the lack of rain is something which would have made them destroy the queen cell and occupant I was hoping to make use of. I am assuming less rain = less nectar without any help from gardeners. Any one care to comment?

 

[Stiffy]

Blimey! That's early! When I inspected last week, one of my queens hadn't even started laying. The other other three had small patches of brood on a couple of frames...

It feels like a slower start than last year...

Mine are all over the place, some are racing away and needing more room while others are only just now starting to get going. I guess with the weather also being so odd at present at least some will get it right!
S

 

[The Riviera Kid]

Mine are all over the place, some are racing away and needing more room while others are only just now starting to get going. I guess with the weather also being so odd at present at least some will get it right!
S

Sounds like mine. I hope the weather is better and I can go see them tomorrow or at least over the bank holiday.