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Tag: Garden

24th May 202024th June 2020 Jim Featured

Garden Hives

The garden hives are very busy now, and the split colonies are growing well. I still have 9 or 10 hives to fill, so am hoping to make a few more splits soon. I've been very busy making new hives and the frames to go in them. I still have 4 supers to make and … Continue reading Garden Hives

12th May 202024th June 2020 Jim Featured, Hive Husbandry, Inspection

Active Bees

The bees are lovely and active today, which is great to see. I have been making new hives all day yesterday and today as I have some new colonies of bees on the way, plus I need to make a few more splits. I have a few empty nucs which I can use, but I … Continue reading Active Bees

20th April 202024th June 2020 Jim Featured, Hive Husbandry, Inspection

Population Explosion

I managed to get the inspections done on the hives in my garden today - all queens seen, all laying well and a fair few drones in the hives, especially the double brood hives. I have one weak hive, on about 6 frames, but there is a lot of sealed brood so numbers will pick … Continue reading Population Explosion

19th April 2019 Jim Featured, Inspection, Queen Rearing, Swarm Control

Start of a new season

I did the first proper inspection of the year today, checking all the hives in my garden. All were lovely and strong, plenty of bees and brood, but one was a bit low on stores, so I will have to keep my eye on that one. I moved the overwintered nucs into hives for them … Continue reading Start of a new season

25th January 201925th January 2019 Jim Featured, Hive Husbandry

Winter activity at the garden hives

31st August 201810th December 2018 Beekeeping Equipment, Hive Husbandry, Maintenance, Queen Rearing

End of season work

I'm taking advantage of the decent weather and painting a load of new poly mating nucs so I think it's time that I tidy up the stands for them too - 'insect friendly' paint being used, of course. I also have some new Maisemore's 6 frame poly nucs to paint. I use Valspar "Oxford Blue' … Continue reading End of season work

29th August 20189th December 2018 Hive Husbandry, News

An Inspector (or 5!) came calling…

I had a visit from the National Bee Unit today, two bee inspectors and 3 auditors (why are there always more bean counters?). The auditors were checking that the bee inspectors carried out their work as per ISO standard, and that they were using and filling in the correct paperwork. The National Bee Unit (NBU) … Continue reading An Inspector (or 5!) came calling…

21st August 201810th December 2018 Hive Husbandry, Queen Rearing

Looking good

I inspected all my garden hives and nucs today, and merged some of the mating nucs to make larger colonies for over-wintering. I have to say, I am very happy with the queens I have produced this year, they have all come on really strong, have lovely brood patterns and are very calm. I got … Continue reading Looking good

16th August 201810th December 2018 Beekeeping Equipment, Feeding, Hive Husbandry, Maintenance

Autumn Jobs

By now, most beekeepers will have finished the harvesting of the honey,  unless they get a second honey flow from plants such as balsam and heather. The Ivy will start to flower soon, and provide more nectar, but it is a very bitter honey and many don't take it but instead leave it for the … Continue reading Autumn Jobs

25th July 201811th December 2018 Beekeeping Equipment, Hive Husbandry, Inspection, Making Increase, Queen Rearing

New Queen, New Palace

I moved the nucleus colony with my new breeder queen into a full-sized hive today, it was too hot to wear a bee suit or jacket, so I wore just a hat and face veil. I'm pleased to say that even though my smoker was lit, and on standby, I did not have to use … Continue reading New Queen, New Palace

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