Broodnest In The Cold
Source: Randy Oliver Not many beekeepers pull brood frames out of their hives in the middle of winter. Whilst this is not surprising, given the risks, it does mean that we tend to imagine what's going on inside the hive.…
Category: Winter
Dessie and Fish
Desert Orchid at Sandown Park Last Friday, I attended the National Honey Show at Sandown Park Racecourse. The last time I'd been there was to watch Desert Orchid romp home in the 1987 Gainsborough Limited Handicap Chase. Dessie was one…
In The Wars
red blood cells I've been in the wars lately, which is why I haven't written much on here. Plus, of course, it becomes increasingly difficult to find new ways to say things as each season passes. As we enter spring,…
Zoom Talk on Wintering Bees
This week I did a Zoom talk for the Suffolk beekeepers, which was fun. Well, as much fun as it can be for an introvert. Maybe the virtual environment suits people like me who shy away from big crowds and…
Bee Work in Winter
With David Kemp in Nottinghamshire I had a lovely chat with David Kemp this week on the telephone. He is a talker! It's always a privilege and a pleasure to hear his stories, and he's still going strong at 82…
Winter Survival
Murray McGregor shows a winter cluster How this Walrus does it I harvested my last honey in August and treated for mites as soon as the honey supers were off. This works for me. Many beekeepers leave the harvest until…
When the going gets tough…
Hives in Winter Image above copyright Mariusz Nikiciuk Here in the UK, and particularly in my corner of our emerald isle, we are accustomed to some unpleasant weather, mostly of the wet kind. A couple of years ago I picked up…
At Least I’m not Starved of Metaphors
Baby Walrus Gosh, I've been running around like a blue-arsed fly, a headless chicken, a striped ass ape…[insert favourite metaphor here]…which is not how your average walrus likes to be. We are sedentary creatures. We like to muse, and ponder,…
What do bees do in Winter?
Did you know that honey bees are experts at managing the temperature inside their colony? There are even “heater bees” who act like little radiators, applying their heat as required. They vibrate their wing muscles vigorously in order to generate…