Apichat

24th December, 12C. The very unseasonable temperature had the bees out flying in significant numbers and if it were not for the dead grass and leaflets trees, it could have been any other day but a mid winter one! No surprise that stores in the brood boxes and supers below were now used up and the ...

Monday 21st Oct, 12C. A bit of sunshine and out they come! Colonies recently back from the heather all out bringing in yellow and orange pollen. A good sign there is brood being produced, boosting numbers of winter bees with any luck!

https://www.piperdewar.co.uk/images/oct_bees_and_pollen.jpg ...

17th October, sunny 15C to start, then rain. Just enough time to check on the colonies brought down from the heather. Bringing the colonies off the hillside was eventful. The ground conditions were too soggy at the first attempt. Our 2WD just slithered about, but following some drier weather we ...

23rd September, 12 degrees, overcast and cold. Garden bees are soldiering on and have produced just short of a super of honey. Pretty poor, but they'll need that for the winter.

Out apiaries haven't produced anything and are being fed syrup. The hill bees have produced a little honey but the ...

Thursday 5th September, a cold and dreich day, with temperatures down to 12C and no bees out flying. not the best for checking bees but today, needs must! With the weather is still very changeable and overall temperatures dipping towards autumnal levels, and winter prep just over the horizon, it was ...

Spoke too soon!

30th July, sky full of sunshine, 25C, enjoying an afternoon on the lawn until that familiar buzz of a swarm filled the ears. A sizeable swarm from who knows where decided fly into the garden necessitating a quick retreat for my sunbathing better half!

Thinking the season had moved ...

29th July, After a hectic few weeks, finally things in the apiary more or less under control!

Swarming was slow to start at the end of June but continued well into July. This was complicated by the fact we were feeding syrup during the cold weather when the colonies had used up what honey they had ...

27th June, it's been a busy couple of weeks, carrying out swarm control, making splits, collecting swarms and checking how well the colonies did this spring, and not that well at all is the quick answer to the last point!

The colonies in the garden apiaries faired better than the out apiaries ...

May 27th, overcast, 14C, but the break in the persistent inclement weather we've been having offered a chance for a swift and timely round of the apiaries.

Garden colonies were all performing well, producing honey, and not showing signs of swarming yet. However in one very strong colony the queen ...

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 ...