the tractor and the bees

Kathyp · May 04, 2008, 05:57:37 PM

after all the questions about working around the hive, and all of our assurances that the bees don't care, i put the lie to that today. i went out to plow up my buckwheat pasture. i started about 20 feet from the hives and worked my way out. for the first 30 min. they didn't care. then they started checking out the tractor. by the time i'd been out there for an hour, they were pinging off my head. guess they figured out what made the beast go :-) .

no stings, but i quit to be on the safe side. so...most of the time the bees don't care. today, they do!

JP · May 04, 2008, 08:53:40 PM

Consider yourself warned, perhaps next time, they'll just get right to the point. ;) Glad you're not in bed with ice pack and benadryll!!

...JP

Tucker1 · May 04, 2008, 09:59:06 PM

Kathp : When I read your posting, I saw that you planted buckwheat. That invites a question. I'm assuming that you get lots of buckwheat honey. If that's the case, how do you like it? I've read that it's stronger than clover honey.....but, I don't really know what that means. Stronger in what sense ?

Regards,
Tucker

Kathyp · May 04, 2008, 11:09:26 PM

tucker1, i don't know yet. this will be my first crop. i will let you know, but it will be mixed with blackberry.

JP, i got really lucky. when i went back out and started the tractor i found that yellowjackets had made a nest in the front loader arm. when i lifted it, they came out. don't know why they didn't fly the first time. fortunately, i own multiple cans of wasp spray...the kind that sprays 20 feet! :-)

JP · May 05, 2008, 12:07:37 AM

Kathy, those yellow jackets have dealt me some serious blows in the past. Nuke them ALL!!! :-D

...JP

Ross · May 05, 2008, 02:30:41 PM

Try it again in August when it's hot and dry and hive is twice it's current size. DAMHIKT

2-Wheeler · May 05, 2008, 03:35:51 PM

Quote from: kathyp on May 04, 2008, 11:09:26 PM
JP, i got really lucky. when i went back out and started the tractor i found that yellowjackets had made a nest in the front loader arm. when i lifted it, they came out. don't know why they didn't fly the first time. fortunately, i own multiple cans of wasp spray...the kind that sprays 20 feet! :-)

Nasty yellowjackets. I've got them all over already too. I wish I could find where they hide for the winter.

So when you were plowing, was it the yellowjackets pinging you or the honeybees?

Kathyp · May 05, 2008, 06:03:55 PM

the bees were pinging me. not sure where the yellowjackets came from. i can't see them in the tractor. i think i must have set the bucket down on them, or they were just starting to nest in it. usually i find them in my hay and that's where the tractor was parked.

i did not give the yellowjackets a chance at me. i executed and strategic (and rapid) retreat. :-D