beekeeping report

Posted by on June 8, 2009 in farm | 15 comments

It's time for a beekeeping report. I'm glad there's so much interest. When I first decided I wanted to keep bees a couple years ago, I searched all over for beekeeping bloggers, and didn't find much. Now it seems there is a plethora of beekeepers out there. It's so great!

I don't know if I mentioned that my new hive finally arrived, and I've assembled everything that wasn't already assembled, and painted all the exterior surfaces to protect the wood from the weather. The inside doesn't get any paint, because those fastidious little bees would likely chew it all off. They are a very tidy bunch. My hive has some frames with comb tied in with rubberbands. Since they're a new hive, the beekeeper gave them some pieces of comb to get started with, and they break off those bands just as fast as they can, and shove them out the front door. Sometimes they remove the bands faster than they can get the comb firmly attached to the frame as I learned on my second hive inspection, when all that fresh new wax just fell out of a couple frames as I lifted them up. I had to re-band them in place. One fell straight down into the hive, and it was quite nerve-wracking to stick my hand down in there to retrieve it. I did it, though, and they've since started building it out even more.

I'm still cracking myself up every time I think about my hive name, so I blatantly stole this idea from Leigh of Burbs and the Bees, and stenciled my queen's name on the front of the new hive. I'm too lazy to fit the entire "Von Trapp Family Stingers" on the hive, so that will remain my own little joke. I'm quite pleased with the results. I just got the alphabet stencils at Michael's, and made my own crown stencil. I also added the little medallion up top. I think I'll move everyone over this coming weekend. Better to do it now, before the hive gets too big. Excuse my messy shed.

Maria

I've been inspecting my hive most weekends, and it's growing slowly. I just hope they'll be strong enough by the end of the Summer to be able to make it through the Winter. Because we're in the mountains, flowers bloom later, so until there's a good nectar flow, I won't see a lot of growth. I'm also watching what is blooming, and noticing what the bees seem to like. I thought they would be all over the lavender, but so far they've just ignored it. Maybe it needs to open more? They loved the rosemary, but with only two bushes, there wasn't much there for them. I took a bunch of rosemary cuttings this past weekend, and am going to try rooting them and planting them around the yard so there will be more for them next year. They weren't interesting in the lilacs, and I haven't seen them in the honeysuckle, which surprises me. We have mustard all over the place, and I've seen a few bees there, but not many. There are wild flowers blooming around the valley, so maybe they're just foraging elsewhere.

Nectar

There is nectar and pollen in most of the frames, with brood cells in the middle. I've been seeing lots of eggs and larvae, although I haven't actually seen my queen the last couple inspections. It's likely that her attendants have cleaned the green dot off her back, but as long as I see eggs in various stages of development, I know she's there.

Larvae

Neweggs

If you look at the last picture full-sized, you might be able to see the tiny rice-like eggs.

Twice now I've witnessed them doing an orientation flight. The first time it happened I freaked out a little bit, and thought my little colony was going to swarm, but it turns out that it was just a bunch of new bees getting ready to start going out to gather nectar, pollen and water. On a nice afternoon they will go out and hover in front of the hive to get their bearings. It looked like a traffic jam to get in the hive. I went back to check on them a little later, and everything was back to normal. Here's a good video of bees on an orientation flight.

Oh, and I didn't want to forget to share this helpful tip. Be sure to toss your cat in your purse before leaving for work. You never know when you might need to have a cat handy. I personally prefer a calico-tabby mix, but you have to decide what works best for you.

Lucy

15 Comments

  1. I’m scared.
    The Von Trapp Stingers is a riot. I can’t wait to decorate my hive. 🙂
    Thanks for keeping us posted on Maria and the Stingers.

  2. Bee Hive is darling! oh, just noticed you did get your banner centered! It looks great!

  3. Actually it was emptynest on that last comment!!

  4. I am so impressed at you keeping bees. I have never had a bee sting, and am paranoid of ever having one.
    I love the hive. Well done.
    I want a cat for my purse too!!

  5. Okay, the cat is purrfect but the purse is absolutely gorgeous. Perhaps a photo of it on its own? And please, where did you get it?
    Nosy Lisa

  6. My husband has been tending his bees assiduously…and the hives are named Cleopatra and Nefertiti (in honor of my Egyptian background!), but no stenciling…it didn’t occur to me and it CERTAINLY didn’t occur to him! 🙂
    I love how you did it.
    And good advice…a cat is very handy to have around…yours is a darling!

  7. Cats are the new black. All the celebs are carrying them. Never leave the house without one! 😉

  8. Borage is a very good bee plant and quite hardy too. Pretty kitty!

  9. Wow..I am so impressed you are doing this. My dad is allergic to bees so I am deathly afraid of them (I have yet to be stung). I love, love, love the Queen’s name on the hive..that is wonderful. Sweet kitty! That’s a great tip. I think I have one of those laying around here somewhere…

  10. Love the hive! I enjoyed the update! Bees!!

  11. You should totally take your cat to work and keep her under your desk. Until your cubicle neighbor starts sneezing, anyway.
    I go to a naturology doctor and he recommended I get Royal Jelly to eat for a boost of energy, especially when I am in labor. I had no idea what it was until I read the paper that came with it and it’s what the queen bee eats for energy and longevity. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m feeling slightly guilty wondering how many queen bees had to die prematurely for my one little bottle…

  12. We have just installed 3 new hives this spring. I love seeing the bees around our little farm with their fat bodies all covered in pollen. We have mulberry trees so I am hoping next year we might see some purple honey. Fingers crossed!

  13. hey Lucy! Do you have an idea for someone who grew up and would not eat an egg? Now I have progressed to scrambled, but cannot, cannot imagine having one another way (runny yolk…ewww?) I think you might have an answer.
    I “shared” bees with my tree huggin’, chicken raisin’, coal stove using, no pesticide neighbors when I was a youth. aaah…granola and all that good stuff.
    they moved to vermont to pursue a christmas tree farm. how awesome is that?
    love the new banner! Nicole

  14. I love the hive. Well done.

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