Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: beehappy1950 on July 03, 2011, 11:20:35 PM

Title: Basswoods are in bloom.
Post by: beehappy1950 on July 03, 2011, 11:20:35 PM
I finally have honey going into the supers. Took about 6 stings to find out, but I did it. Hows everybody else doing? Harold
Title: Re: Basswoods are in bloom.
Post by: bee-nuts on July 04, 2011, 03:10:27 AM
Mine are about to pop open.  Im out of boxes of course again dang it, making splits trying to prevent swarming so into the brood chambers the basswood honey will go, at least ill get lots o drawn comb.  No ill be good.  Star thistle is about to pop in a few days too and ill get a good month and a half flow from that and I got clover and alfalfa at the other yard so send over any empty supers.
Title: Re: Basswoods are in bloom.
Post by: yockey5 on July 04, 2011, 08:44:20 AM
Not doing good in NE Indiana.
Title: Re: Basswoods are in bloom.
Post by: c10250 on July 04, 2011, 09:42:13 AM
The flow is on in Northern Illinois.  Basswood popped about a week ago.  I've got two full supers and need to find a third.

(http://home.comcast.net/~k_haas/home/flow.JPG)


In Southern Wisconsin the flow hit last week.  The hive outside Monroe put on 25 lbs in 1 week.

Ken
Title: Re: Basswoods are in bloom.
Post by: bens on July 04, 2011, 02:35:37 PM
I've got 2 large  American basswoods in bloom 300 feet from my 2 hives.  And not a single honey bee on them.  Lots of bumble bees and the like but none of my bees. 
Title: Re: Basswoods are in bloom.
Post by: SawBee on July 04, 2011, 07:53:09 PM
c10250 I like your graphs.   Are they from your hives?  If they are, I assume you have scales under the hives.  The graphs provide interesting viewing.
Title: Re: Basswoods are in bloom.
Post by: c10250 on July 05, 2011, 09:40:33 AM
Quote from: SawBee on July 04, 2011, 07:53:09 PM
c10250 I like your graphs.   Are they from your hives?  If they are, I assume you have scales under the hives.  The graphs provide interesting viewing.

Yes, the hives I mentioned are both on platform scales.  There's more you can learn about your hive than just how much nectar they are collecting.  For example, you estimate how many pounds of bees are out foraging at any time.  It's also fun to see how much nectar they evaporate every night.  Also, in the winter, you can see how quickly they go through stores. 

The hive weight also gives you a good idea when it's time to harvest.  You don't even need to open the hive up to determine that.

Ken