Apichat

8th May, temperatures up into double figures and holding at last! With better weather the colonies were all very busy bringing in nectar and pollen of many colours. They are generally in good humour at this time of the year and tolerate a full inspection without becoming defensive, which is ideal wh...

Did you know that not only do our honeybees waggle dance, but they also tremble? The waggle dance is a behaviour well known throughout the beekeeping world and is a mechanism honeybees use to communicate the location of a rich source of forage. The quality, distance, and direction of the resource ar...

29th April, 10C, sunny intervals, gusty winds. We've experienced more up and down weather over the last weeks often keeping the bees inside. When the sun did come out so did the bees, and they worked furiously, bringing in a range of different pollens and some nectar. Today the weather was good enou...

23rd March, 7C sunny spells, no rain. Last couple of weeks have been mostly cold and driech, but when sun has come out so have the bees, bringing various colours of pollen from the flowers, trees and shrubs that have come into flower. The gorse is in full bloom around the out apiary but haven't seen...

Every year fields of Oilseed Rape (OSR) change the look of our countryside with acre upon acre of dazzling yellow flowers that fill the air with their heady scent. The plant, Brassica napus, produces pulses of pollen and nectar and when ripe, seed that provides an important source of vegetable oil, ...

5th March, it's 9C and sunny but wind chill makes it feel positively chilly. Days are tangibly longer and the light quality much improved. The bees have noticed the change and are out as soon as the sun shines but back in just as fast when it clouds over. March - the spring danger zone! Beware of st...

16th Feb. Full sun and 12 degrees brought the bees out in numbers today, and they were were bringing in a steady flow of pollen for the first time this year. It's a great sign and confirms the queen last seen in the autumn is still there and is stirring in to action. It heralds the arrival of spring...

Wonderful news yesterday that good friend and seasoned beekeeper Tom McGravie received a most unexpected Honorary Lifetime Membership for the Edinburgh and Midlothian Beekeepers Association for his ' services to beekeeping, with all rights, honours, and privileges thereto appertaining '. Tom, who wa...

Fog rolled in last night leading to a cold and damp 5C start this morning after weeks of wild windy weather, ice and and snow, but the wind has finally calmed enough for a quick check around the apiaries. The bees were up but haven't used much feed in last three nearly four weeks. Topped up the fond...

28th January, overcast, windy, 10C, the first snowdrops and crocus are in flower, the daffodils are pushing on, and the bees have been putting in an appearance these last couple of days. Spring is on it's way and it's always a good reminder that the new beekeeping season is just round the corner and...