Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Dane Bramage on August 02, 2009, 05:22:36 PM

Title: Fatal Rose & Anise Hyssop
Post by: Dane Bramage on August 02, 2009, 05:22:36 PM
I've many varieties of roses around my apiary.  Today is the first time I've seen the bees foraging any of them in earnest.

(http://i26.tinypic.com/9quuer.jpg)

These have a very strong and lovely fragrance.

(http://i30.tinypic.com/2h51dkz.jpg)

Looking in closer.

(http://i26.tinypic.com/2cwv6hh.jpg)

But these roses are inhabited by predators.

(http://i28.tinypic.com/2yn2xlf.jpg)

White crab spiders have "set up shop" here... and are apparently eating quite well.

(http://i32.tinypic.com/5oe91l.jpg)

(http://i30.tinypic.com/a5dhuh.jpg)

(http://i28.tinypic.com/iy0ndy.jpg)

I'll upload the Anise Hyssop photos next (late for lunch, lol!)


Cheers,
Dane
Title: Re: Fatal Rose & Anise Hyssop
Post by: Kathyp on August 02, 2009, 05:29:07 PM
getting any honey this year?
Title: Re: Fatal Rose & Anise Hyssop
Post by: Dane Bramage on August 02, 2009, 06:21:59 PM
Quote from: kathyp on August 02, 2009, 05:29:07 PM
getting any honey this year?

Not yet.  I'm 0/2 so far on my typical three seasonal harvests.  Looks as though I will get some August Wildflower... but, sheesh!  Record cold and then record heat (in both temps & duration) = this year has been teh suxor!  There are no apples nor pears on my trees.  :'(

Worst season evarrrrr for me here.  How's yours going?  I'm still hopeful for all the late summer blooms here to kick me some sweetness.  :-\

Some Anise Hyssop macros:

(http://i25.tinypic.com/2pow6fr.jpg)

(http://i25.tinypic.com/16la93q.jpg)

(http://i27.tinypic.com/2aeqbkj.jpg)

(http://i26.tinypic.com/2yod9is.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/308ir1y.jpg)
Title: Re: Fatal Rose & Anise Hyssop
Post by: johnnybigfish on August 02, 2009, 06:35:45 PM
Man Dane!!!
Those are some SUPER good pictures!!!

your friend,
john
Title: Re: Fatal Rose & Anise Hyssop
Post by: Kathyp on August 02, 2009, 07:02:07 PM
it's bad.  i hear the whole WV is like this.  i'll be lucky if i get a jar of honey out of it and i'll have to feed.  if we get some rain this week and the buckwheat perks up, i may get 2 jars!  3rd bad year for me.
Title: Re: Fatal Rose & Anise Hyssop
Post by: Dane Bramage on August 02, 2009, 10:14:54 PM
Thanks John!  I like the way the anise ones turned out.  :)


Quote from: kathyp on August 02, 2009, 07:02:07 PM
it's bad.  i hear the whole WV is like this.  i'll be lucky if i get a jar of honey out of it and i'll have to feed.  if we get some rain this week and the buckwheat perks up, i may get 2 jars!  3rd bad year for me.

Crap!  I'm sorry to hear that Kathy!  I thought some people's season was doing well early this Spring (likely right when I did my splits  :oops:).   Everything surely is cooked to a crisp now though!   The valley looks like Cali. :roll:  I'm so over this heat... gahhhh!!!  Nights in the 50's and daytime highs in the low 80's will seem like an oasis.  I hope we get those rains too... all we need now is some dry lighting eh?   :-X 

Well, I'm still going to wait it out a bit and let them be.  I'm fortunate with the wetlands.  Much of the ground is still soggy, creek is actually running quite high (no idea why.. maybe a beaver downstream?  lol!) and the purple loosestrife, etc., is rocking.  I'm getting some red pollen too, which is new & bizarre (have to track that source down still).   I'm resigned to writing off this season as a "rebuilding year" though.   :-x
Title: Re: Fatal Rose & Anise Hyssop
Post by: Kathyp on August 02, 2009, 10:24:48 PM
early in the season, they began to store well.  i had high hopes.  the blackberries were awesome and lots of blooming of other stuff.  i was very surprised to fine huge amounts of brood and almost no stores right at the height of the flow.  i have no idea what to make of it all........
Title: Re: Fatal Rose & Anise Hyssop
Post by: RyanB on August 03, 2009, 08:14:48 PM
Love seeing your pictures Dane!  This is my 1st year and only a couple of hives so I didnt expect to get any honey. Last I checked the girls had a number of capped bars. So things looking well over here.