For the past weeks I have been really busy with projects and tasks other than bees. Sitting in front of a computer has taken a back seat. With the evenings drawing in, I have spent more time in the workshop - and of course, with the lights on, the time just flies by!
However, just over a week ago I decided to move the bee hives out of the chicken run!
The only reason for that is the inquisitive chickens getting under my feet when I wander in to say 'hello' to the bees. The chickens pay no attention to the bees.
I've not yet decided exactly where in the garden the hives will be located - but getting them 'Outside the Run' is the priority to then provide time for me to decide their new location
All my hives are on vertical legs, just fitting onto an 18"?? square paving stone.
Just over a week ago I started the move.
Each night when I lock up the cluckers and the bees have stopped flying, I place another paver in front of each of the hives and move each hive one paver forward.
The Hives are tightly held with ratchet straps so they don't slip and twist when moved.
However, they are quite heavy with winter stores which is the main reason I'm only moving them 'One Paver at a time' and not the "maximum of 3 feet"
The next 'hurdle' will be 'going through the gate'. Although this won't happen for a few days yet, I keep mulling ideas over in my head as to the best way for me to do this. So far, I'm considering a 'temporary gate' in front, or behind the permanent gate.
By the time both hives are through the gate, I hope to have finally decided where they will remain for the winter.
For those of you who remember me finding and removing the "Invisible Queen", she remained in the nucleus box for some time. Despite looking very carefully I never, ever saw her. Obviously she was stunted and no larger than a conventional worker. They continued in the box, with pollen and nectar being brought in. The number of bees never increased but very gradually decreased. About a week ago, just after I had started the 'Hive Exodus' I noticed wasps going into the nucleus box. I looked inside and there were significantly less bees - more importantly there was almost no pollen being brought in. The Queen was dead - obviously.
I put a spare shallow on top of one of the hives with a scrappy bit of newspaper to separate it and then rested the neuc frames loosely inside.
The following day all the bees - probably no more than a couple of 'mugs-full' had left the penthouse and moved in to the flats with their friends below!
We have a number of Bramley Apple trees in the garden. These have proven very popular with the 'locals' and we sell them at the gate along with the eggs. I was scrambling up one of the trees to fetch the last elusive apple when I came face to face with apple blossom! Looking further I found at least three clusters of blossom! We then noticed we had quite a lot of blossom on the runner beans! This is after we have spent the whole summer harvesting them. The Chief Victualling Officer refuses to put runner beans out for sale since she freezes them so we have them all the year round.
Has anybody else found daft trees and plants suddenly producing blossom in October? or is it only us?
Kind regards to you all.
Malcolm.
