We're getting there.
My one allowance to fiddling this year is to compare 14x12 with [double brood] nationals. So to that end I've basically shook swarmed one of the nucs, with a single frame of brood, into a 14x12 Nuc with a mix of comb and foundation and a good feed. All the rest of the brood is now in the other nuc which is on a single brood national and a super frame for drone. Going to give that a week or so to really get going and then add a Super in the first instance, a second brood box can likely wait until next year I suspect. Ideally want one apiary on 14x12 and the other on Nationals and never the twain shall meet, but for now they're both on in the same place.
This weekend has been making up new hive stands and getting some paving slabs to finally sort out making the main apiary start to look half decent again.
This was recorded two weeks ago but was only broadcast today. Don’t worry I didn’t smoke the bees to death! They wanted sound effects for the radio which also included moving frames out of the hives so they could get the mike in. Unfortunately this item was heavily edited and us talking about our near native dark bees was left out. But at least we got the Varroa message across.
Press play and use the dark blue bar on the bottom of the screen to scroll to15:30
https://m.mixcloud.com/radioorkney/a...30th-may-2019/
I’m off to the bees now for first time in two weeks!!! (It’s been far to cold for opening up the hives.)
Here’s a link for photos put on their Facebook page today.
https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?se...Q&__tn__=-UC-R
Last edited by lindsay s; 30-05-2019 at 02:03 PM.
Having a listen now.
Picked up a swarm this evening, just trying hard to squeeze into "Swarm in May". Suspect it's a cast, but around 3 frames on 14x12 so not to be sniffed at too much just yet.
Anyone know what this shrub is? The bees - of all types, bumble, honey and solitary - were hammering it yesterday.
190601-064.jpg
For size comparison, the big old girl in the photo is almost the size of the last joint of my thumb.
Many thanks
A cotoneaster variety??
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Yes, I also thought it’s Cotoneaster. Mine isn’t flowering yet - but when it does, the bees love it - particularly the wasps.
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