My bee's at work

Irwin · June 28, 2009, 05:19:51 PM

I was mowing my neighbor's lawn and this is what I found my bees at work :-D

http://picasaweb.google.com/irwin453/019?authkey=Gv1sRgCLvL9Med9ObE4gE#

NasalSponge · June 28, 2009, 09:59:18 PM

Nice...blackberries?

Kathyp · June 28, 2009, 10:02:29 PM

irwin, what is the yellow?

asprince · June 28, 2009, 10:08:32 PM

Quote from: Irwin on June 28, 2009, 05:19:51 PM
I was mowing my neighbor's lawn and this is what I found my bees at work :-D

Wish you were my neighbor.

Steve

Irwin · June 28, 2009, 10:46:34 PM

Quote from: kathyp on June 28, 2009, 10:02:29 PM
irwin, what is the yellow?

I don't know just a weed.

Bee Happy · June 28, 2009, 10:51:53 PM

nice pics. I missed the blackberry flow, with the hives being nucs in buildup mode. I'm already hoping I can catch it as a monofloral next year. It grows wild all over the place here.

Dane Bramage · June 29, 2009, 02:10:22 PM

Quote from: Irwin on June 28, 2009, 10:46:34 PM
Quote from: kathyp on June 28, 2009, 10:02:29 PM
irwin, what is the yellow?
I don't know just a weed.

birdsfoot trefoil. my bees are working that (in addition to blackberry, etc.,) right now as well.

Irwin · June 30, 2009, 09:36:00 AM

Thank's Dane :) Where you been.

Dane Bramage · June 30, 2009, 10:40:05 AM

Quote from: Irwin on June 30, 2009, 09:36:00 AM
Thank's Dane :) Where you been.

YW :) - I been buried under a big... pile... of... WORK. :-P (wish I had more time for photos, etc.,)

Kathyp · June 30, 2009, 11:05:00 AM

hey dane. was wondering where you'd gone also. thanks for the ID. guess i don't have any.

Dane Bramage · July 01, 2009, 01:57:11 AM

Hi Kathy,

I was thinking about you over there & wondering how your season has been progressing. Severe Winter (record cold) and a wildly fluctuating Spring (cold, then hot, then rainy & cold) seemed to delay, cook & then wash off a lot of the good early flow (maple, cherry, apple, pear, etc.,) here. Lots of swarms about. Strange season so far... delayed a bit (I also did splits) but the blackberry is & has been rocking. The weather had been mostly conducive for that and I am looking forward to some harvest soon. Forecast is for more "cook-off" weather later this week though: bone dry & 90°F+'s!, which might bring an end to the blackberry flow... probably will. :roll: Nights are forecast to be cool at least. 8-)

I hope you get an awesome surplus/harvest this year. Maybe those May rains were kind to you?

Oh, & the trefoil is a good nectar producer and also good forage (ruminant grazing legume).

Cheers,
Dane

Kathyp · July 01, 2009, 11:02:38 AM

hasn't been bad. much better than last year. early build up was good and late spring flow has been strong. if i could keep the swallows from eating so many bees, all would be great. sounds like we were a little more moderate than you.

not sure how i'll do yet. keeping my fingers crossed. any excess would be a +. the last two years have been sad.

expect to see picks of your honey again this year!!

Dane Bramage · July 05, 2009, 11:35:24 PM

That's great news Kathy! I'm keeping my finger's crossed here too. So far I'm 0/2 on the June & July harvests. June is the rarest one... has to be mild Winter and early Spring for me to catch any surplus from the maple, berries & fruit trees. July (Blackberry) has been awesome with a surplus every year thus far. Not this time :'( though they've packed their brood chambers well and the purple loosestrife is coming in right on schedule as the blackberry finishes out. Loads of clover, birdsfoot trefoil & then jasmine, mints, herbs, etc., and all the summer bloomers will hopefully produce. Who knows.. maybe there will be a nice fall with some late harvest action.

How's your season going Irwin?

I'm gonna go cry in a jar of last year's honey. ;)

Cheers,
Dane