caged and ready

Nice to have a few available for the club Xmas party. Sold out in 5 min as I spruiked along the dinner queue!

Quote from purchaser “looking in on the queen I bought from you. She’s filled the bottom box and was filling the second. Very nice solid brood pattern, and she was standing calmly in the middle of a frame when I saw her.

I’m really happy so far. That hive is looking the best it’s ever looked.”

amazing wild comb

Although I resolved not to do any more cut outs here’s another, done for a pal.  Extraordinary how regular the combs were built and also that the bees chose such a large cavity (they are supposed to prefer 40L).

Despite the apocalyptic rain we went ahead. 

Success!

Once again I organised the Flow Hive Course (No 2) with Stuart Anderson able to join us.  And more fantastic feedback from the participants who are thrilled and grateful to learn beekeeping.

More honey than I want to extract. Here are the stickies back on the hive for the bees to clean up. 75kg this month!

Hard to keep the apiary under control. I keep grafting and splitting and every time I turn aroundthere are a few more nucs needing a home. Sure beats losing 30% every year to varroa like the Americans.

Requeening with Kangaroo Island queens. The Barwon Heads Community Arts Garden bees had gone a bit feral and started unprovoked attacks on the unsuspecting gardeners.  So it’s down to me to sort it out.  And did they let me know what they thought!.  Found 3 of the 4 queens and replaced (over a 3 day campaign).  The last one just shook out all the bees and left the brood over a queen excluder so the queen couldn’t get back.

Cutouts, I thought I was out of this business!

Northcote, possum box

Point Lonsdale, wine barrel

Strong hive!