- Thread starter
- #721
You guys are usually way ahead of us at anytime. There has definitely been some crazy temps.
💗🐝Our Backyard Beekeeping Journey!🐝💗
- Thread starter drstratton
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #722
I saw quite a few bumblebees up in the Black Locust. I wish they were closer, so I could have gotten a better picture. This one was at least 2.5", I couldn't believe how big it was.
Finally got a couple of halfway decent pictures of my girls on the Korean lilac.
Finally got a couple of halfway decent pictures of my girls on the Korean lilac.
Baymule
Herd Master
I have honey locust on my place, all mowed down and the front was bulldozed. The thorns are terrible, I hate them. I'm watching so I can keep them mowed down in a particular spot in the back. Animals like to eat the honey locust pods, great for spreading the seed around, 
- Thread starter
- #724
Our Black Locust have thorns too. They sucker up and probably spread by seed, but it's easily controlled here. The honey Locust (aka green Locust) we have is a cultivar without thorns. Sorry yours is such a pain to keep under control.I have honey locust on my place, all mowed down and the front was bulldozed. The thorns are terrible, I hate them. I'm watching so I can keep them mowed down in a particular spot in the back. Animals like to eat the honey locust pods, great for spreading the seed around,
- Thread starter
- #725
A few interesting things. Our Black Locust is in full bloom and our Green (Honey) Locust trees are full of catkins. From what I've read they only get pollen from the Green Locust, no nectar. I thought the bees would be all over the Black Locust, but there are way more of them on the Green Locust Trees. The bumblebees are taking advantage of the Black Locust blooms. I'm a little disappointed, Acacia honey is one of my favorites and I was hoping for a large amount of that in our honey, but they know what they need better than I do. Maybe they have a lot of larvae to feed.
One of the new Purple Robe Locust Trees we planted this spring is blooming. There is one of these at the golf course about 4 miles away and it was covered in honeybees. Probably our friends bees.
One of the new Purple Robe Locust Trees we planted this spring is blooming. There is one of these at the golf course about 4 miles away and it was covered in honeybees. Probably our friends bees.
- Thread starter
- #726
It's queen checking day! Hope to get out there around 10. The wind should only be about 5 mph at that time and temps will be right at 70°F.
Let there be lots of eggs!
If we don't find eggs, we will pull a frame of eggs from our queen right hives and let them try again.
Hope we spot the new queens. If we do, I will mark them.
Let there be lots of eggs!
If we don't find eggs, we will pull a frame of eggs from our queen right hives and let them try again. Hope we spot the new queens. If we do, I will mark them.
- Thread starter
- #727
Well, no eggs in either hive. I'm going to check again next Tuesday, just in case they hatched later than expected and they are still out on mating flights.
We added a frame of eggs from resource #1 to resource #2 and a frame of eggs from Hive #2 to Hive #3. Hubs is also thinking about just buying queens, if we can find any. Added one 1qt of syrup to both and my homemade pollen patties. I need more sugar.
The swarm hive has eggs, larvae and capped brood, but it's still small. We haven't put a super on there. I think a new queen is in order for that Hive too.
Hive #2 & #3 both have capped honey. There was even some capped in the resource hives and and #3. Of course that's not any we will extract.
I'm also thinking we might do a Demarre split on Hive#2 next week. It's pretty full. I did see some supercedure cells or queen cups. So don't want to wait too long to take action. They were also a little spicy, got a love tap on my thumb, but she didn't leave the stinger...lol Wasn't wearing gloves, until after that happened.
I'm a little disappointed, but last year was pretty fantastic for our first year. So, if this year doesn't turn out to be as good, I'm still having an amazing experience.
I also failed to get any pictures. Next time.
We added a frame of eggs from resource #1 to resource #2 and a frame of eggs from Hive #2 to Hive #3. Hubs is also thinking about just buying queens, if we can find any. Added one 1qt of syrup to both and my homemade pollen patties. I need more sugar.
The swarm hive has eggs, larvae and capped brood, but it's still small. We haven't put a super on there. I think a new queen is in order for that Hive too.
Hive #2 & #3 both have capped honey. There was even some capped in the resource hives and and #3. Of course that's not any we will extract.
I'm also thinking we might do a Demarre split on Hive#2 next week. It's pretty full. I did see some supercedure cells or queen cups. So don't want to wait too long to take action. They were also a little spicy, got a love tap on my thumb, but she didn't leave the stinger...lol Wasn't wearing gloves, until after that happened.
I'm a little disappointed, but last year was pretty fantastic for our first year. So, if this year doesn't turn out to be as good, I'm still having an amazing experience.
I also failed to get any pictures. Next time.
- Thread starter
- #728
Well, hubs isn't messing around. We just ordered 3 queens. Buckfast, Carniolan & an Italian. I asked him, what if we come back and we find eggs... more hives...lol
They ship next Monday, so I assume I'll get them the next day.
Maybe I'll get my Golden West Queens next year. Well see how it goes this year and where we are next spring.
We're replacing the swarm hive queen, that hive just continues to struggle. When we add the new queen I'll probably add a frame of brood from Hive #2.
They ship next Monday, so I assume I'll get them the next day.
Maybe I'll get my Golden West Queens next year. Well see how it goes this year and where we are next spring.
We're replacing the swarm hive queen, that hive just continues to struggle. When we add the new queen I'll probably add a frame of brood from Hive #2.
- Thread starter
- #729
Bees and blooms.
Carniolan on our Snowmound Spirea.
Italian on our Black Lace Elderberry.
I was happy to finally see one on an Iris. Italian!
Carniolan on our Snowmound Spirea.
Italian on our Black Lace Elderberry.
I was happy to finally see one on an Iris. Italian!
- Thread starter
- #730
Decided to do a Demarre split today. I didn't want them to swarm before we got home on Monday. Once again, I forgot to get pictures. This was a new experience and my brain was only intent on making the correct choices. Destroyed 4 queen cells with larvae in them.
We moved a frame of brood, workers and larvae into the swarm box. Should be good to go when we introduce the new Queen next week.
Aftermath...lol
Bottom box:
Queen
1 frame of capped brood
Plenty of drawn comb for her to lay in.
Queen excluder
2 supers:
Top super is mostly drawn comb
Top deep:
Workers
Eggs
Open larvae
Capped brood
Resources
We moved a frame of brood, workers and larvae into the swarm box. Should be good to go when we introduce the new Queen next week.
Aftermath...lol
Bottom box:
Queen
1 frame of capped brood
Plenty of drawn comb for her to lay in.
Queen excluder
2 supers:
Top super is mostly drawn comb
Top deep:
Workers
Eggs
Open larvae
Capped brood
Resources
