Title Photo: Honey Bee on Thyme As the temperatures this month continue to break records in the heat, the good nectar flows from the start of the month dried up even affecting the deep roots of the Lime trees which were flowering well. How do the bees cope with all this heat trying to regulate the heat in their colonies?  Well one thing they do is to “clump” outside their front door hanging in a […]

Title Photo: European Hornet Nest in an empty Nuc Well what a start to the season with ground frosts at the start of the month followed by really hot summer weather and a subsequent nectar flow followed by swarming galore. I’m a little better prepared this year with “bait” hives out and about around the garden away from the Apiary but with empty hives with or without combs and Foundation all ready to go. Then

Title Photo: Drone Layer At the start of the month we were all seeing ground frosts which were keeping colonies restricted to hives especially early in the morning but by the end of April nectar was flowing in and a temperature of 20 °and no rain. But those of us that sat up Asian Hornet baits were pleased to see only Queen Wasps and European Hornets feeding on the wicks.  Hence the picture of a

Title photo: Mouse in the House As it starts to warm up in what is turning into a very dry but warm March, well when the sun comes out, but with ground frosts persisting until late in the month, the bees are getting active. It is time to take off the Woodpecker protection and see what is going on in the hives. I don’t go into my brood chambers unless it is really warm and

Title Photo: Dismantled Smokers ready for cleaning. This month we start our preparations as we see the bees get active on cleansing flights and collecting pollen. I’ve several smokers which I use over a season, so about this time I take them apart, clean off all the tar and ensure the bellows are working efficiently with no holes!Then I have to remember which bits have to fit onto each other. When bees are busy on

As the harshness of our winter weather settles in, it may not be very cold but the winds are certainly causing damage, hopefully not to our surviving colonies. The weather has a way of helping to sort the weak from the strong in many ways and the following shows an Old Oak tree which had to be felled due to the rotten centre which was wet and very much like “papier mache”.  In days past

As we reflect back on the passing year the headline picture shows how Keeping Bees has not changed much in the last 100 years, even if the protection equipment is better improved.Those of us who watched the BBC drama concerning Henry VIII and Thomas CROMWELL have seen “Monks” of the time (in the background) working their bees equipped with some rudimentary protection based on a famous Painting /Sketch from that time – no nylon or

Title photo: Bees busy flying fourth week in November. Well at last the winter arrives with the cold and wet ensuring all our colonies stop the breeding process and cluster to survive the onslaught. The month started off well but then the frost and snow arrived curtailing all activities. You may be tempted to “poke around” the hive but if they are well fed waterproof and vermin protection fitted, leave well alone. If you have

As normal, the month started off mild but ‘very wet’ confining colonies to their hives when the Ivy was in full flower. On those mild days when temperatures rose and it stopped raining, every ‘worker bee’ that could be spared was out working the Ivy flowers and any other plant they could find still in bloom. Then we had our first ground frost of the season which set everybody back, reducing nectar flow and prevented

Title Photo: Ready for Repair! The weather certainly continues to play tricks with the ability of Beekeepers and bees to settle down for the winter.  But at least the Wasps were washed away in the torrential downpours we have had over most of the month. Autumn Preparation It is time to really prepare our colonies for the next six months of shutdown.  All supers off and put into mouse proof storage ready for use again