Front page Beeculture mag.

[beehappy1950]

I just recieved my beeculture magazine and was amazed with the front page. I see they have 6 supers on the white house hive. Now I know I cant afford the expensive bees that they do, but come on now. I am from Minnesota and I dont have a drop of honey in any supers as of this mornings check. I have 2 packages, 2 that wintered, and 2 nucs, and none have made me any honey yet. Was wondering how you guys were doing out that direction. Harold

[T Beek]

Was in DC last October, caught the White House Beek doing his thing (from outside the fence).  I think its the second time Bee Culture published a WH hive pic.

thomas

[Dimmsdale]

I'm in West Virginia and hived a late package on May 22nd.  Just checked the girls today and they have 4.5 deeps full of honey in the second brood chamber. (I use all deeps, have 2 deeps right now and about to add a 3rd.  The only have 2 more frames in the bottom to draw out with about 5 frames of brood and 1 full of honey downstairs.  They have 2 more empty foundations to draw out upstairs so I rotated them to the center of the brood.   I know I won't get too much, if any surplus this year, but I've been really pleased with how they have built up.  Italian queen from Georgia.  I would think it would be a great crop this year, wish I would have got these girls back in early April!  Anyone from MD or WV?  Hows is it looking??

honey
Brood

You can see the Queen in the lower left corner.

[sc-bee]

I just recieved my beeculture magazine and was amazed with the front page. I see they have 6 supers on the white house hive. Now I know I cant afford the expensive bees that they do, but come on now. I am from Minnesota and I dont have a drop of honey in any supers as of this mornings check. I have 2 packages, 2 that wintered, and 2 nucs, and none have made me any honey yet. Was wondering how you guys were doing out that direction. Harold

Expensive bees they have ---- should be no different than anyones. I thought the same thing about the number of supers but then I wondered about the cherry tree bloom and other ornamental trees.

Also with all the smoke and mirrors @ the White House they could all be empty supers :-D

[Dimmsdale]

All the better to hide a Secret Service Sniper in there...

honey


brood

[gardeningfireman]

Come on! Smoke and mirrors from the white house, or any other politician? No way!! They are there FOR US! They would never go astray from that sacred duty!! :shock:

[sc-bee]

My White House Hive:
I started the package late April. I think they got most of the nectar from the Cannas in the background. I have filled the hummingbird feeder twice.

Sorry I just could not resist :evil:

[Dimmsdale]

Very nice!

[T Beek]

 :lau: :lau: :lau:

thomas

[mikecva]

SC-Bee,

I noticed you are running without a top cover. How did you train your girls to stay in?   :piano:

I think the secret service is servicing more then just the pres and his family.   :lau:

[FRAMEshift]

I guess they could have 6 supers. The entire Washington area is full of artificially maintained flower gardens, ornamental trees, etc. etc.  all watered and fertilized. 

[sc-bee]

Invisible hive top ---- only found on White House Bees ;)

[beehappy1950]

OK. I read the story and it appears the beekeeper is fighting the swarming by putting on lots of supers. Harold

[ToniBee]

Hi --

Charlie, the White House beekeeper, has had some of us locals help from time to time, and I can tell you this about his hive.

The hive is his, donated and not paid for, and so are the bees. He takes care of them on his own time, and volunteers extensively to speak to visiting groups of children and others. He is a very conscientious and meticulous beekeeper, and raises some of his own queens while being in contact with many other queen producers with an eye to creating survivor stock. Any beekeeper here could get Charlie's results if we undertook his level of care and his self-education.

One reason the hive is large is that swarming at that location, as in any urban situation, is not a plus, and he keeps ahead of congestion. The other is that the site is full of old, mature and non-hybridized trees.  Many contemporary streetscape trees are "low waste," meaning that they do not shed blossoms, etc -- also meaning that there is not much for bees to do with them. That lawn had hundred year old hollies and lindens and you name it. 

Before the hive ever came, extensive research was done about safety and legality. There have been thousands of visitors to the south lawn since the hive came, with no incident. The local government knows about the hive and sees no conflict around its presence.

Finally, this is only the latest hive on federal property in DC. The Smithsonian has had a hive in the Natural History Museum since the Reagan administration, the USDA has had hives at the National Arboretum since God wore short pants. Federal territory, wherever you are, is governed by federal law, and even our local government here is told what to do by the feds.

Cheers,

Toni

[AllenF]

Sc-bee, your botton green honey super is upside down in that pic.   All your honey is going to run out.   :-D

[sc-bee]

Dang :shock:

[luvin honey]

Some impressive honey yields there on approximately 3 cannas :)

[Shanevrr]

Sc-bee, your botton green honey super is upside down in that pic.   All your honey is going to run out.   :-D

third down is too :-D

[sc-bee]

I guess I need to work the hive tommorow and get evrything straightened out ;)

[stella]

sc-bee....you crack me up! That was hilarious!