Blog Comments

Originally Posted by Jon

Whin/gorse is not a major source but they will collect pollen if no other options, usually in early spring.

In the west coast island of XXXX, one large apiary is sited right next to a very extensive area of dense gorse. The bee traffic there in late May was something to experience - you could hardly hear yourself think for the noise of bees, and the sight of the bees going to and fro like standing next to a motorway. The gorse flowers for months (almost all year - though clearly mainly May/June) and as gorse is very hardy it is a fairly dependable source in upland areas (where there is gorse). I wish there was more gorse here in my group of islands!

My old man is 55
They started apiary in 2010 with 7 colonies, this year they have 25 colonies and honey... Well, apiary is about 800metres above sea level, trees everywhere. Most of the forage is mixed with honeydew which gives certain hint to all of their honey. I watched and helped them on holidays this year and its such a great feeling working with bees.

What age is your old man. Mine turned 80 last week and he still keeps 15 colonies of bees. He usually wears marigolds.

I would like to start not using gloves at all, like my old-man but i'm such a wuss

somehow I don't recognize colours until I have my coffee intake in the morning)

I don't recognise anything until I have tanked up with coffee in the morning.

You are doing the right thing by starting off with minimal protection. I would also recommend the nitrile or surgical gloves which is all I ever use.
If you can't work your bees with minimal protection, you have the wrong sort of bees.

Working your bees with minimal protection focuses the mind and if they behave badly you will requeen rather than go into denial like a lot of beekeepers do. A veil over the head should be enough in most cases. gavin needs to get himself some wellie boots.

I have to admit I only converse with my bees when I get stung and the conversation usually starts with FFS.

It wasnt comfortable experience I bet! Depending how far up the bee went
3rd day... Yeah, i'm sure You are going to see more 'improvisation-creativity'

I didn't tuck my trousers in this afternoon and had a bee up my trouser leg, never a comfortable experience. That occasional hat and veil is going to become a frequent hat and veil, pal! Talking to the bees is good. Just don't let anybody else hear you. Your equipment is similar to mine when I started out, in fact I didn't even have a jacket - just a veil and a waterproof jacket. It is good to see that the inventive spirit still exists during this era of beginner's kits and whatnot.

I shrink picture files to 800 pixels wide, upload them, and link to them without placing a copy in the vBulletin area. Maybe that is too much, as people with slow downloads have to wait for a while to see several pictures.

Day 3 already, eh?!

Definitely rose bay willow herb. Lots of it here and they love it!

Whin/gorse is not a major source but they will collect pollen if no other options, usually in early spring.

At the moment your main sources are likely to be bramble, clover, and rosebay willowherb.
Other secondary sources in my area are birds's foot trefoil, privet, poppy, marigold and other stuff which people grow in their gardens.
Brassicas allowed to run to seed are also attractive to bees. Autumn flowering raspberry is just starting and they like that as well. And I forgot to mention himalayan balsam which grows usually in damp ground near waterways and can be a major source of both nectar and pollen. The bees come back to the colony coated with white pollen on their abdomens.

Is whin (gorse) - provide good forage for bees ?

Thats exactly what it is there! And this bee with hunger in its eyes answers my question 'is this a forage for my bees'

Brown or browny white! Can be a wee bit greenish as well unless I am mistaking it for some other pollen which is quite possible.

This is rosebay willowherb.

White clover is usually brown when carried by bees in their handbags.

I`m taking the day of tomorrow, so I`ll pop in with my camera and try to take few good photos of bees, surroundings, forage. I hope that blog become more interesting and beneficial for beginners like me.

Tall and pink will be rosebay willowherb.

Yellow bushes are probably whin.

Whitish pollen I would guess is from clover at this time of year, possibly bramble depending upon how white your white is.

voytech104 you need to be wary of Scottish folk who call you pal. I reckon that is a bad sign mate!

Very enjoyable. If you post photos of the mystery flowers, I'll try and tell you what they are!

Excellent! I just love your enthusiasm! Sorry ... I'm probably what you'd call an experienced beekeeper but I peeked anyway.

The pink spires may be rosebay willowherb and the pollen loads from that are browny- to blue-grey. **correction, just blue-grey** Ask Jon nicely and he may show you a picture. The cherries, plums, apples and even willow is just like the forage my bees have. They will really benefit from it in early spring.