Spruce's honey bees

Hi All

A favourite member of mine and yours has asked me to start a thread on honey bees and what I do throughout the year , I do have two nucleous (baby) hives I have to pick up soon I thought this may be a good introduction to the thread. As if anyone is thinking of beekeeping this is how everyone starts.

I will do photos etc and keep it as simple as I can with explaning the (way I do things ) somtimes people may disagree but I will look at it as an insight and overview, remembering this is a gardening forum and I will leave apiarist (beekeepers) to the Bee Forum which is already well established in the UK and if detailed information is required far more experience and knowlegdeable people than I or maybe more articulate to explain.

This all depends on you, if enough interest shown I will start a new thread .

Lots of opertunities for GC members to join in:

• photos / competition
• favourite bee plants
• what we can all do to help
• Updates etc Asian Hornet in the UK or not
• Pesticides do' & dont's
• Organic alternatives
• ??????????????????

Spruce

 

Go for it Spruce, i'm sure I speak for all of us except Lolimac in saying we'd love that

 

I'd be interested in the Hornet side too, as i've seen normal Hornets & then i've seen things that resemble small fighter aircraft in both size & sound

 

Asian honets for Ziggy 1st question you can join in as well noy just my thread
http://www.planetepassion.eu/wildli...tina-nigrithorax_frelon asiatique_france.html


Spruce

 

Cheers Spruce

No, they were much bigger than that.

 

Brilliant Spruce ....i'm up for that...will read with interest
Got a question.....i know it wasn't a Bee but ....a couple of years ago i caught a massive wasp thing....no exageration it was 4 " long and what i presume was the 'sting' was like a darning needle...had it in a jam jar so i could get a good look at it....amazing thing it was.....obviously started to get annoyed so let it go and ran...what was it

 

Lolimac too then

 

Sorry missed earlier post.....Mr Searchfield is on a wind up mission

 

Think i've sussed the 'thing' i found.....Giant wood wasp 'they' reckon is "completely harmless"....i think someones having a laugh...looked like a murderer to me
When are you getting your nucleous Spruce...i can't wait....seriously really interested

 

H

Hi Should of been last week but the weather has put them back by about a week but waiting on the phone call I have the main hive ready its called a 14 x 12 its similar to a National Hive but the brood box frame is bigger , just realised I should do all this stuff first and explane all the parts of the hive (to follow) typical not raining so I need to do stuff in the garden , I will plan out what what , looks like the thread is a up and running then. Catch ya later

Spruce

 

Any news on the Bees yet Spruce

 

Keeping bees has interested me in the past.
But I dont eat honey.

I just find them interesting creatures, clever creatures even.

Came across swarms in trees on a couple of occasions and they are actually very scary.

 

Last year, a swarm started in our communal car park at 8am and by 11am was this size. A local bee keeper was more than happy to take the queen and most of her devotees away. A few stragglers stayed a day or two but left eventually. it was a very fascinating experience and I did not find it scary as they were not angry. The HUM was quite loud and wonderful, Loved it and I look forward to viewing this thread with interest Spruce

 

Wow great pics Jenny....i'm looking forward to this thread too

 

OK OK I picked them up on Monday yes in all that rain at least they were all at home one got into the car and when I opened the boot about thirty just sitting on the side of the nucleous hive but it was cold and they just sat their when I took them out of the boot and placed them on the hive stand I left them 24 hours to get used to the new suroundings, I have transfred them into the main hives Tuesday (bigger and more room) it was just the best day as it was sunny warm and very little wind perfect , going down to the Apiary Saturday so will take the camera , but no shots of inside yet couple more weeks I will take some of the hives and the entrace they are "Buckfast bees" just so you know I will add some links about the hive etc just to get us all off to a good start.
Jenny love the photos swarms can be scary its the noise before they settle, just before they leave the hive all the bees have a feed on honey so very docile at that stage maybe a day or two as they wait for the scouts bees to find a new home then off they go again its amazing to watch as its starts with just a couple then the queen take to the air the whole lot go , I supose you want shots of me in my suit but if I catch anyone laughing !!!

Spruce