🐝💗Our Backyard Beekeeping Journey!💗🐝

[drstratton]

July 31, 2025

I started some Hummingbird Mint (Hyssop), for my bees from seed. Started 9 seeds, only 2 sprouted. I have about 20 more, so I will try again next spring.

Think I might have waited just a bit too long to transfer this one...lol

 

[drstratton]

August 1st, 2025

The girls were still out foraging after 8:30 last night.

One of my Italian girls on my basil.

 

[drstratton]

August 2nd, 2025

The girls are hungry! I just fed them their syrup. I'm sure they will be ready for more when we get back home next week.

 

[drstratton]

August 10th, 2025

Varroa mite inspection showed 0 mites on 3 hives, but 4 on the 4th.

We're thinking about doing OA vapor (oxalic acid on the 4th hive). We want to have supers on all of the hives in about 5 weeks for the buckwheat flow. So I really don't have time for apiguard and I'm not sure I want to use it anyway.
The girls are still bringing in some nectar and pollen.
I'll share our honey amounts when we finish extracting.

4 Varroa mites...gross...lol

 

[drstratton]

August 10th, 2025

Today's harvest went really well. The girls were very calm, which I was thankful for. I didn't weigh this time, but I know we pulled off 3.75 gallons. That should last me through winter...lol

The deeps are loaded with honey, pollen, bee bread, eggs, larvae, capped brood and lots of bees.

We pulled off 14 frames this time. A couple of them were not completely full. So, we're very pleased with the amount of honey they surrendered.

Finally got a good picture of a couple of drones. I will be adding this to my article.

All in all, it was a very good day.

 

[Baymule]

Pollen patties. From watching bees, they collect pollen on their back legs, little tiny yellow blobs. So my question is, how are pollen patties made? What flowers yield enough pollen to make harvesting it worthwhile?

 

[drstratton]

Pollen patties. From watching bees, they collect pollen on their back legs, little tiny yellow blobs. So my question is, how are pollen patties made? What flowers yield enough pollen to make harvesting it worthwhile?

They are actually made from a pollen substitute, which is made using a high protein flour.

 

[SageHill]

I love seeing the pics and reading all about your bees, hives, honey. Gives me so much more appreciation for the honey that I buy. I buy local, but still - it's honey in a jar - LOL -- I don't want to be like those who think burger patties just come in a frozen plastic wrapped package. I like knowing what and how.

 

[drstratton]

I love seeing the pics and reading all about your bees, hives, honey. Gives me so much more appreciation for the honey that I buy. I buy local, but still - it's honey in a jar - LOL -- I don't want to be like those who think burger patties just come in a frozen plastic wrapped package. I like knowing what and how.

I'm so glad that you are enjoying the information.
It's definitely given me a new found appreciation for the bees, but also for the bee keepers. I truly had no idea.

I've always known where my burger patties & steaks come from. But, I also have an enhanced appreciation reading about how hard all of you work with your animals.

 

[drstratton]

August 13, 2025

Last night we attended the monthly local bee club meeting, it was very productive. We learned more about how they treat mites. They also shared what they use for candy boards and some great ideas for top insulation and moisture control. I will share those as soon as we get them built.
We will be starting our OAV treatments next week when we get back home from a weekend spent with Dale's sister and her husband. Bike riding, dinner, drinks and golf. Should be very relaxing.

A Carniolan bee on our Crepe Myrtle!

Italian Bee!