I spent a little time checking on my bees yesterday. The honey flow is in full swing and my bee community is very busy drawing out comb and filling the cells with honey.
I fully admit that they are a tad behind as I started out using a queen excluder. This is a screen type device that is placed between the brood boxes and the honey super. Designed to permit the worker bees into the honey super and keep the queen out, it was just not working in my case. When the queen stays out of the honey super, then she cannot lay eggs there. You just don't want eggs/hatching brood in your honey. There is some difference of opinion in the beekeeping community about whether using an excluder is the best choice. Some beekeepers feel like it keeps all of the bees from working the honey. In my case no one wanted to go through the device to work in the honey super.
So, I removed it from the hive and I cannot even describe how fast the bees began drawing out the comb.
And, they still like to hang out on their front porch in the hot afternoon. This is known as, "bearding".
After tending the bees I took a peek into the garden and ended up filling my wagon with some fresh produce.
Tomatoes and squash are on the menu tonight.
You are becoming quite the beekeeper! How cool! Love your little gardening wagon, too. I'll be there for dinner! ;)
ReplyDeleteI like the ingredients of your meal tonight !
ReplyDeleteYum!
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss that you were doing bees? I think tending bees is so cool. I've given consideration to it, but I'm not sure how to even begin to learn that. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an interesting vocation. Love honey.
ReplyDeleteDarryl and Ruth :)
bearding - a great description. :)
ReplyDeleteQuite scary but fascinating view...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting information about the bees and bee keeping. I guess your bees knew what they wanted and were not going for that separation stuff. I love your wagon full of garden veggies.
ReplyDeleteQuite an education!--not that I understand it. I hope the bee survival scene is improving. A year or so ago, it was sounding dire.
ReplyDeleteYou are becoming quite the bee expert! That is awesome! We're putting our efforts into chickens. You would love them too.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteYour bees are really interesting. I just thought they did their thing and made honey. They scare me a little seeing so many, but it sure sounds like you know what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a yummy harvest in your cute little wagon too.
Am so afraid of them ! Yet most impressive life at your part of the world. Please have you all a good new week.
ReplyDeleteWonderful!
ReplyDeleteBeekeeping is such a fascinating hobby. I hope the production goes well, and I'm slightly envious of your harvest. Ours is just barely getting started, a cherry tomato here and there.
ReplyDeleteVery informative about the bees! Do you get bears? I love honey, but don't think I would dare handle bees. Wish I had one of those sun-ripened tomatoes right now! xx
ReplyDeleteBuzzz Buzzz...I can just hear them when I look at your photos...love that wagon full of goodies...
ReplyDeleteI would love to keep bees. Great looking harvest.
ReplyDeleteI think the bees are interesting and who doesn't love that honey?
ReplyDeleteI like your images of bees, and the one with the colorful background is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy another new summer week!:)
It ´s Monday morning here in Stavanger/Norway.
what a buzzy bee !!
ReplyDeletewonderful pics and reportage
...and not stung even once? Amazing!
ReplyDeleteBeekeeping is so cool ... thanks for the photos. Wonder if anyone ever does beekeeping in the city?
ReplyDeleteHa, that's a wagon load! Supper sounds delicious! Hey, if you're into linky parties we'd love to have you and your honey bees over at Farm Fresh Friday!! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteSounds like busy days around your place. I find the bees to be quite interesting! I know you all will enjoy the wonderful benefits from the honey.
ReplyDeleteJust can't beat tomatoes and squash for a summer meal..
Blessings,
Shug
Wow, that's really interesting about the bees! Oh, the veggies look divine!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit today!
For some reason, you fell off my list . . . so I've "re-followed" . . . crazy stuff!
belle profondeur de champ
ReplyDeletej'adore les abeilles
Very interesting! I didn't realize there were different methods to it.
ReplyDeleteawesome photos. I really want to keep bees. Where would you suggest starting out - I am a complete, I stress complete, novice.
ReplyDeletecool. i didn't realize you were a bee keeper.
ReplyDeletei also never heard of the term 'bearding'...i guess when they gather like that and cover an area...it does kind of look like a looooong beard! as long as they don't BEARD on MY face! :)
your wagon-ful of produce looks YUMMY!