What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Do you notice a difference on forage coming in to flower? My main apiary is on the highest point around here (a lofty 150m) but the blackthorn, brambłe etc is always the latest to flower compared to lower points around. My other apiary is more in the foothills a few miles away - a massive 50m lower!

I only took on the Carreg apiary (210m - compared to Brynmair 95m) middle of 2014 season but there is a three to four week difference between the two. The association apiary is over the other side of the mountain at the same elevation as Brynmair, but being nearer the sea it's a week or two earlier again.

 

[drex]

Swapped hives around to equalise them. Changed floors and put them all on new stands - all freshly painted with wood preserver. Gave them light syrup in frame feeders. Several fields of osr in flower. All colonies look a good strength - the only frames I removed were the outer ones to make way for the feeders. However the wooden nuc taken through the winter was weak - hope it benefits from swapping places with the polynuc.

 

[Millet]

I grew a load of Teasel last year over 100 plants and this year it will flower, so its getting took out of the pots and getting planted in a straight line about 10yards opposite the hive to form a natural barrier.

 

[bontbee]

Next year you'll have a teasel hedge! I know, as I have a teasel "lawn",
I was delighted when one plant turned up as a volunteer a few years ago....

 

[Millet]

Next year you'll have a teasel hedge! I know, as I have a teasel "lawn",
I was delighted when one plant turned up as a volunteer a few years ago....

I collect the seeds for my Goldfinches so i have no shortage of them, i have also planted thousands of seeds this year so they will flower every year now, if you don't do that you end up with them flowering every two years.

 

[Brigsy]

Do you just sow on prepared soil?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bontbee]

Mine arrived under it's own steam, but since then seem to have no problem at all in self seeding.

Some plants, like borage, will only germinate self-sown seeds well when the soil is disturbed. I "lost" my borage a couple of years ago, as I'd "neglected" that bit of the garden. Once I "cultivated" the ground again, (ie. forked it, roughly), the borage sprouted everywhere and flowered all summer and into November.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I collect the seeds for my Goldfinches
I love Goldfinches. We get masses around the bird feeders and they sing so beautifully.
I spend a fortune feeding the wild birds. Getting the food right was a challenge as so much was chucked out of the feeders for Mr Ratty Have cracked it now, sunflower seeds and peanuts only, then fresh mealworms when there are nestlings to feed

 

[Brigsy]

I feed them Niger seed. They love it.


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[Plenty of honey]

Acacia in my hives, in Aprill!!

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=12845&stc=1&d=1459535573


Bit of a disaster yesterday, got a call from the site owner of one of my apiaries. a tree had come down on top of my hives.The joke was, "the lengths some people will go to to get Acacia in their hives!!

Anyway, one hive and one nuc completely smashed to bits and said bees lost. I couldn't find either queens, but i immediately gave the brood to other adjacent weaker colonies.
Spend all afternoon there today, just clearing up. I think i was actually lucky as it if had come down sideways it would have taken out all three trestles!!
I have the spares already in my apiary, but now two less.
one of the things you least expect, Others have had worse, Black bears in other countries, and obviously theft, so cant really grumble!! so onwards and upwards!!



http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=12845&stc=1&d=1459535573

 

[Erichalfbee]

How awful
Good you managed to save the brood though.
Pretty windy here tonight, everything strapped down well.

 

[Amari]

Varroa counts in my five hives/2 days (oxalic vap at New Year): 12,0,4,0,80. Strangely, or maybe not, the 80 colony is the busiest (I haven't looked inside yet).
I may unleash the MAQ into the 80 colony when it warms up.

 

[Millet]

I collect the seeds for my Goldfinches
I love Goldfinches. We get masses around the bird feeders and they sing so beautifully.
I spend a fortune feeding the wild birds. Getting the food right was a challenge as so much was chucked out of the feeders for Mr Ratty Have cracked it now, sunflower seeds and peanuts only, then fresh mealworms when there are nestlings to feed

Wild Goldfinch have access to a mirage of food when they are breeding let them get on with it they know what they are doing, if you really like them and want to attract them late Autumn Teasel and Scottish thistle does just that even ragwort brings good numbers when it has finished flowering, after that Niger is a good seed as mentioned but after breeding has finished, I,m on a bad internet connection at the moment otherwise I would ramble on forever.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes I see them on thistles in the autumn

 

[gregior]

Swapped hives around to equalise them.


Sounds interesting does it not lead to fighting?

 

[Cazza]

Beginning the journey home after a long holiday. Should see the bees on Sunday. Can't wait to see the hives and hopefully watch them flying.
Cazza

 

[drex]

Swapped hives around to equalise them.


Sounds interesting does it not lead to fighting?

No. They do hover about before landing, but never see a problem of acceptance. I always do this when regular flying starts. Equalised colonies make management easier.

 

[bontbee]

Apologies for the delayed commiserations, Poh, only just seen your post. See what you mean that it could have been worse, but still pretty grim to have to deal with.

 

[Plenty of honey]

Apologies for the delayed commiserations, Poh, only just seen your post. See what you mean that it could have been worse, but still pretty grim to have to deal with.

Thanks everybody, a backward step but forwards again now!! feeling better about things anyway after a day in the apiaries and some sunshine, good food for positive mental attitude!! The glass is half full now!!

 

[Monsieur Abeille]

Took advantage of the fine weather to do first inspection of the year. 2 hives laying well and gathering in plenty of pollen and stores. My third sadly now appears to have a DLQ. Mouse guards off to relief of those queuing outside to get in