Spruce's honey bees

yes son :patpat:

 

I'm trying to picture Ziggy in a bonnet...
yeah - no difficulty there but.....
can't imagine a bee could hack it Armandii

 

have you just drawn that Ziggy?

 

So, you were both out there gathering mushrooms then

 

Think I drew that for Captain Jack Mc Sparrowlashing a while back.

 

Hi All
New start of the Bee keeping calendar 2013








I have been to treat them for Varroa Mite , I do this so they have a good start in the spring which is still a long way off , I also checked how much honey stores the bees have left and I heft the hive (lift it up on one side then do the same the other using a spring balance add the two weights together gives me the weight) and both of mine are fine for the moment I will check again in February.

I have included this Utube clip which explains it better than I would be able too.

If anyone ask's NO ITS NOT ME, if in doubt Jenny & Loli can confirm that's them two having a drink.

Spruce (any questions I will try me best to answer)





above one is the UK way of doing it



the one below the American way, no veil no mask something we just dont do here Health and Safety would have a field day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=sQp9pdAOjdo&feature=endscreen

 

Good to see you're well enough to get out now Spruce

 

Thanks Zigs , taken longer than expected with having had WC

When I took of the roof then the crown board off they looked at me and I looked at them , you tell what they where thinking " what " do you want at this time of year, still early days hopefully fingers crossed they will get through the winter I cant do anything else they have had 5 star treatment since I had them last year .

I am going to look into the "Welsh Black Bee" as it is more suited to the weather here but I think the problem is getting hold of good stock , as I used to keep them about 10 years "the bees from hell" the nick name I gave them , they used to patrol the garden for man or beast to sting, but amazing at surviving the winter and the biggest producers of Honey I ever had.


Spruce

 

Thank you so much for the update Spruce. How are they doing ? Quite a "kind" Winter in a weird sort of way.Were they up on the top? Scurrying about - or all their little pits under duvets?
Jenny