Again I used the sticky board to count the mites in my hive. The last time I did this was in June, and back then, after the requisite 3 days of waiting I counted 30 mites. This time I found 68. The threshold – the point at which you need to consider treatment – is …
Category Archives: bees
HONEY!
When Tom (the hive inspector) pulled out one of the frames, he said it looked like perfectly good honey and I could harvest it.There would be another flush of nectar at the end of summer, so whatever I took they would easily rebuild and refill. So yesterday I did just that. The bees only got …
One Hectic Summer
Hive inspection by the county inspector That’s one whole frame full of good honey, both sides. I’ll harvest it when the rain holds up. ~ I apologize for the dearth of posts. Our household has been in such a flux and beset by crises these last few months, it has been hard to sit and …
Hive Inspection and Those Disgusting Varroa Mites
This morning I had a visit from my county’s hive inspector. He was a nice man with almost 20 years of experience. We talked about Italian bees vs Carnolians, packages vs. swarms, treating versus letting the bees fight it out, win or loose. The inspection showed a good amount and variety of healthy bees, lots …
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We Get to Eat Too
The cucumbers are finally coming in. Amie was happy to harvest some, though she won’t eat them. These, maybe… Still no zucchinis or squashes in sight, just like last year. Of the dry beans, Jacob’s Cattle is the first one ready for picking. I love the sounds of the hard beans rattling in their dry …
Tomatoes and Green Beans
This is one more long update. Life is so full it’s tough to find a moment to sit and write it all down. But here goes… Home-grown salads are a common fare nowadays: lettuce mix, beet “greens,” cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic scape dressing. I could throw in bell peppers too, but I’m letting them mature …
Raspberries and Other Harvests
Amie and I went to visit our new friends of the Freecycle comfrey, L and S, last week. Their raspberry garden was bursting with plump juicy berries. L helped Amie pick, she is so good with young kids. Amie was in seventh heaven, practically yelling with the fun of it. I chatted and picked and …
Mite Count and Camera Trouble
Exactly three days after installing the sticky board underneath the hive, I pulled it out. Fascinating what’s all on that sticky board: dropped pollen, nectar, honey and propolis, dirt and dust, little insects and… varroa mites. Yes, there were mites, tiny fat disks a dark reddish brown, all of them stuck to the board and …
Honey Bee Stinging Bumble Bee
Bees coming in on the landing board The hive was getting very crowded, with 8 frames entirely built out, so today I added the second brood box. The colony should build out 10 new frames much faster than they did the previous 9 ones, because there are many more bees now, and the colony is …
Garden Photos on a Gloomy Day
Bees bearding the hive? Or just lots of traffic. Here’s a little video. Most of the noise is generated by the bees: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlXtoeVJEeU Garlic scapes ready to pick – I’m waiting for a hot afternoon These are ready as well, but I’m holding out for red peppers (these are the overwintered pepper plants) Something pretty …