Before I get into bee stuff, I must say something about a show on Netflix that has blown me away this season: American Idol. I think I have previously written about how it makes me cry, which is not something I’m proud of, but there it is. It makes me cry like a baby walrus that lost its last mollusc (that’s what they eat). The musicians that made it to the last five are all incredibly talented, and even though eventually there can be only one victor, they will all be winners. My favourites are Laci Kaye Booth and Laine Hardy, but I suspect that Alejandro will eventually take the crown. If you like music talent shows, with the inevitable large helping of cheese, then this is one of the best.
Anyway, in other news…
It has been a great Spring in England for honey. It’s piling in! My biggest hive is now about as tall as me; four Langstroth brood boxes and two mediums. Everything seems to be early. Colonies came out of Winter bigger than usual. In my area, the oilseed rape has long gone, and even the horse chestnut is nearly over. It might be one of those years when we get a decent flow off the Hawthorne. It feels that way.
I have also lost a swarm, collected one (it arrived in a spare empty hive) and prevented another three from happening. My first batch of queen cells failed, sadly, but I think I know where I went wrong. So far, most of the other hives are making honey rather than queen cells. I’m happy about that because most contain sister queens made by yours truly last year. Ain’t it great when a plan comes together?
My plans for the next few weeks are:
- make queens
- get honey
- keep my bees out of the trees
That should keep me busy.
Richard Noel, who is a chapter in my book, has recently recorded how he hived a GIANT swarm. Pretty cool, huh?
I wish y’all a great week 🙂