More than Manuka
A New Zealand Honey Bee My time here in New Zealand is drawing to a close. I have managed to interview three different beekeepers and have had a great time too, plus I have picked up a bit of a…
Author: Walrus
Currently writing a book called "Interviews with Beekeepers"
A long long way from home
Beautiful New Zealand It is six days since my son and I began our long journey to Christchurch, New Zealand, on the other side of the planet to our home. It was a LONG journey and even though I splashed…
The Eternal Question
2013 Swarm How to prevent swarming? I previously wrote about some potential factors involved in the swarming of honey bees and why swarm prevention and control are so important for the beekeeper. The idea that we can prevent swarms is…
Why do bees swarm and what do worms do?
A swarm of honey bees Before I get all technical on the beekeeping front I must share with you that I have just started a dog poo (or poop as our North American friends would say) wormery in my back…
How are Bees like Turkeys?!
A turkey Now that the days are getting longer bees in healthy colonies will have swarming on their minds, except that they don’t have minds, but you know what I mean. Obviously they have to build up to it, so…
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Hollyhock in Ulta Violet light All UV images are by Craig Burrows Karl von Frisch (November 20, 1886 – June 12, 1982) was a very clever man who received the Nobel Prize in 1973 for his work in the field…
Schrödinger may have had a point
A Cat There is a saying which goes something like “ask 10 beekeepers the same question and you’ll get 11 different answers!” This makes things very difficult for anybody starting out as a beekeeper, which is why I would recommend…
Taxes, Taxonomy and Tolerance
Bees clustered for winter in Scotland At this time of the year the issue of tax raises it’s grim visage, with online filing of returns having to be submitted by 31 January. I have just been sorting my tax return…
The Queen of Queens of Blairgowrie
Jolanta with a Walrus One of the great pleasures that I derive from writing my book “Interviews with Beekeepers” is meeting the people that work with honey bees. Everybody that I have talked to on my travels so far clearly…
Meeting Mr McGregor
Hives ready for winter In preparation for my latest interview with another legend of beekeeping I decided to have a hair cut. Samli’s is a gents hairdressing establishment run by an engaging 59 year old from North Africa who I…
I’ll be in Scotland afore ye
Map of Scotland I only have a small group of friends, most of whom really started out as my wife’s friends and I adopted them, but there is one chap who I found all by myself. He is the only…
This will Enhance Your Life
The start of a walk in Andalusia The great thing about me keeping bees is that my apiary is in the beautiful Cheshire countryside. It means that I get away from the city. I don’t entirely hate cities, and apparently…