Showing posts with label Bees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bees. Show all posts
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
April 2012
Following the tropical March, and despite the April monsoon my remaining colony was large enough to split in mid April. It produced Queen cells on two frames and i decided to subdivide it hoping got make good last years losses.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
March 2012
Well, we're now in May and although this grim weather is letting me catch up here i find myself wishing it was March again. I'm still wondering if that was our summer this year and am remembering thinking it wasn't the best sign to end up narrowly avoiding sunburn so early in the year.
Back in March....
The hens where coming back in to full lay and Marans / Silkie cross (5th from the left) had started giving us green eggs. Given the Maran lays dark brown and the Silkie white eggs this is definitely not the colour expected. Most of the girls give us an egg a day so i shan't be grumbling about the colour.
Omelettes where back on the menu. As was cauliflower cheese bake.
In the nearby woods the first Comma of the year was seen out and about.
Over at the "Lost Plot" the bees where out and about gathering pollen from Gorse, Hazel, and here seem to have found some dandelions. See more on the Bees page.
Back on 17 > 19 the tulips on the corner where out almost two months earlier than last year
Looking back it was as if the spring bulbs this year knew what was to come as they all seemed to come out over a short time. At least the sun allowed some pleasant days clearing down the dead stems and digging in the compost.
Back in March....
The hens where coming back in to full lay and Marans / Silkie cross (5th from the left) had started giving us green eggs. Given the Maran lays dark brown and the Silkie white eggs this is definitely not the colour expected. Most of the girls give us an egg a day so i shan't be grumbling about the colour.
Omelettes where back on the menu. As was cauliflower cheese bake.
In the nearby woods the first Comma of the year was seen out and about.
Over at the "Lost Plot" the bees where out and about gathering pollen from Gorse, Hazel, and here seem to have found some dandelions. See more on the Bees page.
Back on 17 > 19 the tulips on the corner where out almost two months earlier than last year
Looking back it was as if the spring bulbs this year knew what was to come as they all seemed to come out over a short time. At least the sun allowed some pleasant days clearing down the dead stems and digging in the compost.
Monday, 20 February 2012
Last call for 2011
I am making this the last retrospective post for 2011. After the trauma of the apiary vandals i found it difficult to remain positive about the whole thing and concentrated on activity rather than documentation. Anyhow its high time i was planning for the next cycle. I have also updated the Annuals, Bees and Misc pages.
In the mean while here is something i prepared earlier.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
July 2011
July saw the bees expanding well...
And the heirloom peas starting to crop...
The Salmon flowered pea (above) is beautiful but with all the flowers at the top of the stem does tend to crop all at once on each plant. Varience between plants and successional plantings give a better coverage.
Another of this years swop introductions was Carruthers Purple Podded. It looks fantastic, cropped well and is by far the sweetest of all the purple podded varieties i have tried.
And the heirloom peas starting to crop...
The Salmon flowered pea (above) is beautiful but with all the flowers at the top of the stem does tend to crop all at once on each plant. Varience between plants and successional plantings give a better coverage.
Another of this years swop introductions was Carruthers Purple Podded. It looks fantastic, cropped well and is by far the sweetest of all the purple podded varieties i have tried.
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Update for April 2011
Well Hello, now that i have ported all the archive pics over to Flickr I eventually can get on with the backlog of updates for this years happenings.
At 17>19 the Honesty that now self sustains either side of the steps in is out and providing some early food for the beneficial insects
As are the Dandelions, these I leave for the flowers to be enjoyed but then dig out to provide greens for the hens and limit the proliferation.
This month one of the girls, a while Silkie, hatched us a brood of six chicks. Hard to tell at the moment but it looks like most are Silkie X Marans and only one cockerel.
Meanwhile, and taking advantage of 17>19 being up to speed the clearance and fencing work over at the "Lost Plot" is progressing.
Probably the most exciting development this month is that i have started a 10 week beekeeping course. We have been hands on from the off and i am really enjoying it. No stings so far.
At 17>19 the Honesty that now self sustains either side of the steps in is out and providing some early food for the beneficial insects
As are the Dandelions, these I leave for the flowers to be enjoyed but then dig out to provide greens for the hens and limit the proliferation.
This month one of the girls, a while Silkie, hatched us a brood of six chicks. Hard to tell at the moment but it looks like most are Silkie X Marans and only one cockerel.
Meanwhile, and taking advantage of 17>19 being up to speed the clearance and fencing work over at the "Lost Plot" is progressing.
Probably the most exciting development this month is that i have started a 10 week beekeeping course. We have been hands on from the off and i am really enjoying it. No stings so far.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)