What did you do in the Apiary today?

[BrianO]

Just ad a quick look at the bees - still flying and bringing in that bright yellow/orange pollen, presumably ivy. I suspect they have enough stored enough ivy to last until next December.

Surely...my thoughts too , but as above some feeding now, why ? surely should not need to feed until later in winter . Given the mild temps and opportunity for the Bees to forage stores should be good.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

The welsh are.... Cus they got driven out of Englandshire ...they still bare the grudge to this day

 

[Finman]

.
Anglo Saxon Yala means date when days begin to become longer

In Sweden Christmas is jul.

In Finland it is joulu.

In Germany one name is Julfest.
.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Christmas history of Celts

Why do you think it's okay to copy and paste stuff without acknowledging the copyright of the source? http://www.blackhillscelticevents.org/Events/CelticXmas.htm

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Why do you think it's okay to copy and paste stuff without acknowledging the copyright of the source? http://www.blackhillscelticevents.org/Events/CelticXmas.htm

don't think it mattes in this case as it was only a mish mash of half facts and misinformation anyway

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

but as above some feeding now, why ? surely should not need to feed until later in winter . Given the mild temps and opportunity for the Bees to forage stores should be good.

It's because of the mild temperatures that some people are having to feed. Bees are forging now, yes - but without getting much income - they may be bringing in pollen but contrary to some people's belief that isn't the be all and end all. bees need carbohydrates for energy to fly and survive i.e. nectar - and there very little of that around so they're out foraging, bringing in pollen but burning up energy thus are digging deeper into their stores than usual; combined with that, with the availability of pollen they may still be brooding which needs both protein and carbs - again a greater demand on stores. Some strains of bees don't know when to stop so will be burning up stores like biily-o. all bad news really. Happened a few years ago - mild winter, bees out every day with no real forage income - people piling in fondant a lot more and a lot earlier than usual. Some who didn't heed the signs lost their colonies.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The welsh are.... Cus they got driven out of Englandshire ...they still bare the grudge to this day

Don't you hate them immigrants!

 

[BeeJayBee]

don't think it mattes in this case as it was only a mish mash of half facts and misinformation anyway

True, but he still shouldn't pinch it!

 

[Finman]

Why do you think it's okay to copy and paste stuff without acknowledging the copyright of the source? http://www.blackhillscelticevents.org/Events/CelticXmas.htm

I think that copy is not right, but paste is. That glued to my mouse and I must shake it off. Mouse droppings, I could say.

 

[Ely]

http://www.humanreligions.info/christmas.html

What Christmas means to you depends on which combination of fairy tales you decide to believe in and how far back in time you wish to base your belief on. I enjoy Christmas because I spend it with family on long walks in the countyside in piece and quiet.

 

[BrianO]

It's because of the mild temperatures that some people are having to feed. Bees are forging now, yes - but without getting much income - they may be bringing in pollen but contrary to some people's belief that isn't the be all and end all. bees need carbohydrates for energy to fly and survive i.e. nectar - and there very little of that around so they're out foraging, bringing in pollen but burning up energy thus are digging deeper into their stores than usual; combined with that, with the availability of pollen they may still be brooding which needs both protein and carbs - again a greater demand on stores. Some strains of bees don't know when to stop so will be burning up stores like biily-o. all bad news really. Happened a few years ago - mild winter, bees out every day with no real forage income - people piling in fondant a lot more and a lot earlier than usual. Some who didn't heed the signs lost their colonies.

Nahh, pollen and no nectar !

Dont think so !. Elevated temps, last vestiges of Ivy flowering, other plants some still in flower... where there is pollen and reasonable temps there is nectar.

 

[Swarm]

Nahh, pollen and no nectar !

Dont think so !. Elevated temps, last vestiges of Ivy flowering, other plants some still in flower... where there is pollen and reasonable temps there is nectar.

Really? Why did they struggle this summer then?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Nahh, pollen and no nectar !

Dont think so !. Elevated temps, last vestiges of Ivy flowering, other plants some still in flower... where there is pollen and reasonable temps there is nectar.

in your little bubble maybe but in the real world we are experiencing something totally different. So I stick to my statement.

 

[stevebrowning]

in your little bubble maybe but in the real world we are experiencing something totally different. So I stick to my statement.

I agree

 

[Finman]

Nahh, pollen and no nectar !

Dont think so !. Elevated temps, last vestiges of Ivy flowering, other plants some still in flower... where there is pollen and reasonable temps there is nectar.

What is reasonable temp in December?
And if it is over 25C, Rape does not make nectar. It wilts in hot air.
And if soil has lack of water, mostly plants do not have nectar.


There are many flowers, which have only pollen.
Wind pollinated trees are such, and they are many.

There is a simple thing too, that many flowers do not make nectar in low temperatures.

But if there are spring flowers, they have evolved to offer nectar to pollinators in low temps.

 

[Finman]

Nahh, pollen and no nectar !

.

At least expectations are high. Last moments to repair weak yield of the year.

.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Welcome to beekeeping on Heat Island, everyone!

Different, isn't it? Was hoping to drizzle OA on a nuc colony that had signs of varroosis earlier in the autumn but loads of BIAS and way too much sealed brood so had to forget that idea. Saw the Q, inspecting in 16C, so for now am taking the reductionist view that the colony is fine. May go for formic acid in spring: not sure.

So a word of warning to new heat-island joiners. Pretty much forget OA this year for most strains of bee, I would have thought.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

So a word of warning to new heat-island joiners. Pretty much forget OA this year for most strains of bee, I would have thought.

is that so! couple of not freezing days and everyone believes the idiots on the gogglebox that we're in the middle of a heatwave'
Not much different to any other winter here.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

It's pretty warm. Looks like the warmest 18 Dec in the CET record (back to 1772). http://hadobs.metoffice.com/hadcet/graphs/HadCET_act_graphEX.gif

 

[beeno]

Different, isn't it? Was hoping to drizzle OA on a nuc colony that had signs of varroosis earlier in the autumn but loads of BIAS and way too much sealed brood so had to forget that idea. Saw the Q, inspecting in 16C, so for now am taking the reductionist view that the colony is fine. May go for formic acid in spring: not sure.

So a word of warning to new heat-island joiners. Pretty much forget OA this year for most strains of bee, I would have thought.

I agree. I had a cunning plan to catch my problem hive between two brood cycles which I managed to do. The others will have to wait until Jan possibly February.