Spruce's honey bees

Discussion in 'Members Hobbies' started by Spruce, May 1, 2012.

  1. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    Messages:
    63,598
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired - Last Century!!!
    Location:
    Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
    Ratings:
    +124,069
    Thanks Spruce :dbgrtmb:
     
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
    • Jenny namaste

      Jenny namaste Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 11, 2012
      Messages:
      18,489
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      retired- blissfully retired......
      Location:
      Battle, East Sussex
      Ratings:
      +31,975
      Thanks for this morning's update Spruce. I hope you can show me a pearly white larvae. I'll bet they are all getting excited about the Balsalm coming into flower..:hapydancsmil:
      Jenny
       
    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

      Joined:
      Jul 22, 2006
      Messages:
      17,534
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Suffolk, UK
      Ratings:
      +12,669
      I don't have that here, but I thought that was the Devil Incarnate, and best never to let it set seed?
       
      • Disagree Disagree x 1
      • Lolimac

        Lolimac Guest

        Ratings:
        +0
        Brilliant Spruce:dancy:it's good to hear your Bees are doing well:dbgrtmb:
         
      • Spruce

        Spruce Glad to be back .....

        Joined:
        Apr 10, 2009
        Messages:
        8,780
        Gender:
        Male
        Ratings:
        +12,371
        from a beekeepers point of view no as it flowers to the 1st frost and is nectar rich and tonnes of pollen as well just the right food to over winter on but I don't think the Environmental agency would agree
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Spruce

          Spruce Glad to be back .....

          Joined:
          Apr 10, 2009
          Messages:
          8,780
          Gender:
          Male
          Ratings:
          +12,371
          Thanks Spruce, been working my way through the thread (there's a lot of reading to be done)!

          Was thinking of joining Fleet beekeepers society where u can study also. But before I went I wondered if it was ok to keep bees in your own garden? Or do most people keep them elsewhere? Wondered whether some neighbours are ever awkward about having hives close by.

          Also-how much time do you have to dedicate to beekeeping-I'm quite a busy person with my work so don't have lots of spare time?

          Any advice much appreciated! :)




          Snorky85

          From April to September about 1 hour a week , which is not bad but from Mid April to end of June beginning of July you need to check inside the hive once every 7 days to check for eggs, food, and swarm cells, even more so if keeping in the back garden .

          The question I will ask how close are the neighbours and how big the garden , as if and when they swarm (and they will) you won't be very popular and if anyone gets stung, fingers will point to you even if it was a wasp.
          I don't keep a full hive in my garden anymore , as it freaked out next door and I don't want to fall out with them.
          Excellent idea to join a Society as you are able to handle bees at the "Home Apiary" when on the training courses they hold each society has one but as I have told others read as much as you can.

          Spruce


           
          • Informative Informative x 3
          • Like Like x 1
          • Friendly Friendly x 1
          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

            Joined:
            Jan 12, 2019
            Messages:
            48,096
            Gender:
            Male
            Ratings:
            +100,844
            Thought you might like this, Spruce.
            [​IMG]

            The Bees might have been a bit slow in appearing but now I have literally thousands in the garden working on every plant there is. But Echinops seems to be the most attractive to the Bees by far. They are queuing up to get on the Globes of the Echinops.:hapydancsmil::yes:
             
            • Like Like x 5
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • "M"

              "M" Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Aug 11, 2012
              Messages:
              18,607
              Location:
              The Garden of England
              Ratings:
              +31,886
              Wow!! :love30:

              thought my mate had given me an Echinops .. until it turns out it was something else (Joolz dished the dirt on that one :heehee: )

              5 on 1 and captured on film is a marvellous result!!! Top job :dbgrtmb:
               
              • Agree Agree x 2
              • Like Like x 1
              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

                Joined:
                Jan 12, 2019
                Messages:
                48,096
                Gender:
                Male
                Ratings:
                +100,844
                Actually there were NINE on it as there were four on the other side that I couldn't get into view!!:snork:
                 
                • Funny Funny x 1
                • Informative Informative x 1
                • "M"

                  "M" Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Aug 11, 2012
                  Messages:
                  18,607
                  Location:
                  The Garden of England
                  Ratings:
                  +31,886
                  Of course!
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • honeybunny

                    honeybunny Head Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Feb 15, 2013
                    Messages:
                    1,213
                    Gender:
                    Female
                    Location:
                    Ireland
                    Ratings:
                    +1,915
                    fantastic pic Armandii :thumbsup::thumbsup:
                     
                    • Agree Agree x 2
                    • Jenny namaste

                      Jenny namaste Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Mar 11, 2012
                      Messages:
                      18,489
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      retired- blissfully retired......
                      Location:
                      Battle, East Sussex
                      Ratings:
                      +31,975
                      Wonderful shot Armandii. I must get some Echinops that is such a lovely piccie,
                      thank you
                      Jenny
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                      • Agree Agree x 1
                      • Spruce

                        Spruce Glad to be back .....

                        Joined:
                        Apr 10, 2009
                        Messages:
                        8,780
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Ratings:
                        +12,371
                        Very nice indeed:ccheers: Armandii


                        Looks like I am in for a bumper crop this year at last !!!! lets hope I beat last year roughly about 50lb from each one , only 3 weeks to go to harvest and then they will have the rest of September to stock up for winter with the late flowering Himalayan Balsam , plus treating for varroa will start.
                        I will pop down for a quick look today but NO opening up no need to pester them.

                        Pouring with rain here:gaah:

                        Spruce
                         
                        • Like Like x 1
                        • Agree Agree x 1
                        • Jenny namaste

                          Jenny namaste Total Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Mar 11, 2012
                          Messages:
                          18,489
                          Gender:
                          Female
                          Occupation:
                          retired- blissfully retired......
                          Location:
                          Battle, East Sussex
                          Ratings:
                          +31,975
                          Aaaaw Spruce, so your bees have spent Sunday at home. I used to hate that as a kid - it seemed such a waste of a day ; especially 'cos it was back to school on the following day,
                          Jenny
                           
                          • Agree Agree x 2
                          • Like Like x 1
                          • Snorky85

                            Snorky85 Total Gardener

                            Joined:
                            Jul 7, 2013
                            Messages:
                            3,117
                            Gender:
                            Female
                            Occupation:
                            Accountant
                            Location:
                            Lincolnshire
                            Ratings:
                            +11,178
                            Been to my grandma's garden and she has so many bees buzzing about so took this photo....




                            Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
                             

                            Attached Files:

                            • Like Like x 4
                            Loading...

                            Share This Page

                            1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                              By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                              Dismiss Notice