What did you do in the Apiary today?

[hallshoney]

Found first dead out today. Ate their way to the front frames and starved. 5 full frames at the back not even touched.

 

[masterBK]

Went to out-apiary to check and heft the hives. Found 7 hives with extra ventilation courtesy of a green woodpecker. Two needed the entrance raking out of dead bodies and one hive completely empty of bees with no signs of any dead bodies (seems to have absconded leaving plenty of stores behind). Rest of colonies OK for stores but I put fondant on a dozen of the lightest hives as I had carried it there and couldn't be bothered to bring it back home. Also checked the varroa monitoring sheets under the OMFs . Only one had any dead varroa on it and one other had GWM caterpillar faeces on it.

 

[dpearce4]

Made 11kg of pollen subsitute last night, half for me and half for someone else, god it was hard work, mind you felt good when finnished (smelled discusting when making it to).

Today went up and put it on the hives, all the hives are doing really well, will be interesting to see how well they build up on this.

 

[Little John]

Spotted half-a-dozen flyers (at 5 deg C) who clearly haven't read the 'How to behave like a Bee' manual, so I quickly peeked under the covers to check if all was well - everybody seems happy enough ...

LJ

 

[Margaret Elisabeth]

The gales we had here seemed to have shoved in the entrance block and the extra couple of bits of hardwood I use to reduce it even more so I lifted the hive and sorted it out. Then I lifted the roof for a quick look inside. Under the 4 inch quilt I made is a bag of fondant untouched as yet. They were busy on the back frames taking the honey I left on for them far too busy to look at me, so I left them in peace and put the pot of Thyme back by the entrance.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

stoood in the apiary ad watched the bees do........... bu**er all! then went and watched Wales stuff the crapauds (and I had my money on them losing - unlucky Alf or what - although I don't really mind )

 

[Liam C Ryan]

Gave fondant to my five hives. Brill to see activity in all hives two of which were a little annoyed l had said Hi to them . Temp. up around 11c so it was a good time to feed,
Regards
Liam C

 

[Mart_got_hives]

I had some flying at about 5 degrees too

 

[VEG]

put some more honey in the warmer

 

[Tom Bick]

Repaired the back fence at one site and topped with a bit of barbed wire with the hope it will make people think twice on using it as a shortcut to rummage through the allotment sheds.

 

[youngyoungs]

Watched the hives whilst out walking the dog. Catkins starting to show themselves. I hefted and checked on fondant last week, so won't go in again this week. 5C and windy. I'd love to see even a few bees outside. Bring on the Spring!

 

[beeno]

Watched the hives whilst out walking the dog. Catkins starting to show themselves. I hefted and checked on fondant last week, so won't go in again this week. 5C and windy. I'd love to see even a few bees outside. Bring on the Spring!

Hi youngyoungs,
My sentiments entirely. Inspected all the hazel catkins yday in the road. Still got some way to go. A couple of days warm sunshine would probably do it, but no chance of that in the next week or so. The frost won't spoil the pollen harvest, but rain might?

 

[Cazza]

Preparing to go out and deal with brambles near the apiary. It's cold and wet and I'd rather be indoors.

Cazza

 

[victor meldrew]

Preparing to go out and deal with brambles near the apiary. It's cold and wet and I'd rather be indoors.

Cazza

I'm awaiting the arrival of some bare rooted holly bushes!
Trenches already prepared. Now I read on RHS website that the best planting method is simply to drive a spade into cleared ground ,slip the plant into the slot created, drive spade in again a few inches away and use as a lever to close up the slot containing the planted tree!
Foot note says ,don't be tempted to dig and prepare ground before planting !
Supplier 's advice is the opposite!
It's not only in beekeeping that controversy reigns
VM

 

[VEG]

Holly will grow easily no matter how you plant them. You can try the T shaped planting method. Stick your spade in then pull it out. Then put the spade back in just as in a letter T. Then lever the earth up, it will open up enough to get your bare root in. Then pull spade out and step it in

 

[Luminos]

Holly will grow easily no matter how you plant them. You can try the T shaped planting method. Stick your spade in then pull it out. Then put the spade back in just as in a letter T. Then lever the earth up, it will open up enough to get your bare root in. Then pull spade out and step it in

Anyway, the RHS keep changing its mind about how best to plant trees If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Cazza]

Preparing to go out and deal with brambles near the apiary. It's cold and wet and I'd rather be indoors.

Cazza

That was grim. Job half done but a bacon sarnie and rugby have won over staying outside any longer.
C

 

[Swarm]

Painting poly boxes here. I have a hive to move but it won't be today.

 

[protheroe]

im painting too,6 newly made roofs and hive stands and 20 plastic and metal excluders that i have framed.considering the wooden frames on the excluders looks a small amount its suprising how much ive gone through

 

[Erichalfbee]

Masses of self seeded hollies grow here along the banking of our bridle path. We've pinched some to fill in the garden boundary gaps.
Bramble clearing is the pits. Husband and I spent a week shifting the brambles along the pond edge. Some of the buggers were 20 feet long!

After the recent wind and rain one of the hives is showing some water ingress under the polycarbonate crown board,they never seem to be a good fit after cracking for oxalic treatment and as there is a super of insulation over the hive the roof doesn't cover the join, so I made up a plastic skirt to sit under the roof to cover it.