Nuc Happily Installed

[FatherMichael]

Thanks, Phillip!

Another bunch of emerging brood today -- a good nuc of bees -- very grateful.

Gary Rankin told me about a treatment method for varoa --  shop towel soaked with oxalic dissolved in glycerin, wrung out, and put on the top bars: see BEYOND TAKTIC, by Randy Oliver.

Will do that in a few days.

[van from Arkansas]

I wonder if there's a connection to the bees, like a calling, as I feel called to preach the Gospel.

Father, are you familiar with Brother Adam and his work with honey bees.  Yes, I would say a calling is what the man Brother Adam would consider; world renowned, famous for his bees at Buckfast Abbey. 

[FatherMichael]

I wonder if there's a connection to the bees, like a calling, as I feel called to preach the Gospel.

Father, are you familiar with Brother Adam and his work with honey bees.  Yes, I would say a calling is what the man Brother Adam would consider; world renowned, famous for his bees at Buckfast Abbey.

Heard of him only in passing -- from Mike Palmer.

Langstroth was a clergyman, though a Presbyterian!  LOL

Aristotle wrote in THE EUDAEMONIAN ETHICS that one cannot be truly happy unless he finds his inner calling (called in Greek intelleche, from which we get the word intellect).  He believed that God wrote into the heart of every man what he was to do in life.  Jesus said it this way, "The kingdom is within you."

I've seen churches that work and those that do not.

In churches that work each knows his or her gift and calling, like a beehive.

End of sermon!  LOL

[Ben Framed]

I wonder if there's a connection to the bees, like a calling, as I feel called to preach the Gospel.

Father, are you familiar with Brother Adam and his work with honey bees.  Yes, I would say a calling is what the man Brother Adam would consider; world renowned, famous for his bees at Buckfast Abbey.

Heard of him only in passing -- from Mike Palmer.

Langstroth was a clergyman, though a Presbyterian!  LOL

Aristotle wrote in THE EUDAEMONIAN ETHICS that one cannot be truly happy unless he finds his inner calling (called in Greek intelleche, from which we get the word intellect).  He believed that God wrote into the heart of every man what he was to do in life.  Jesus said it this way, "The kingdom is within you."

I've seen churches that work and those that do not.

In churches that work each knows his or her gift and calling, like a beehive.

End of sermon!  LOL

Last year, I had not heard of him either. Van told me about him and I researched and found an interesting man with life work, of the German born bee man. Dedicated is not a good enough description. He did a fine job in his life time of bee work and experimentation. Striving for a more perfect bee for the use of man, and achieving that calling.
Phillip

[van from Arkansas]

The original black bee species developed by Brother Adam died out due to tracheae mites.  Brother Adam lost every single hive except for his Italians.  The Italians overcame, survived the trachea mite infestation.

Then the man search the world over over hoping to find survivors of his productive, gentle, black bee.  Brother Adam admitted the bee is gone.

So Brother Adam concentrated on developing, improving what he had and eventually ended up with the Buckfast.  The Buckfast was developed from years of breeding the best queens selected from world travels.  The man still holds the world record for honey production from a single hive, 700 pounds of honey.
Blessings

[FatherMichael]

Wow!

What a story!

Need to find some Buckfast bees!

This is so fascinating.

Thank you, Lord!

[FatherMichael]

First inspection of new colony since installing nuc and releasing the queen.

Three warm days of emerging bees, though not in succession, left empty brood comb, which now shows larvae consistent with the queen's release.

Three frames of foundation show only a little work and no major flow just yet (very cool spring), so the hive is not ready for a super.

Treating for mites with an oxalic shop towel.

My wife is a great helper!  Such a blessing.  Took less than 15 minutes with her excellent help.

[van from Arkansas]

Wow!

What a story!

Need to find some Buckfast bees!

This is so fascinating.

Thank you, Lord!

FatherMichael: The qualities of the original BuckFast has been lost through queens breeding with local drones for over a decade.  Some may still exist in England at Abbey but cannot be exported to the USA.  Good luck with finding a true BuckFast.
Blessings

[FatherMichael]

Wondered what the shop towel oxalic treatment might do.  Doubled checked the numbers in the making but still worried I might have killed my bees!

But everything looks normal today.  PTL

[FatherMichael]

Bee population zooming but no sign of the blue acid towel being gnawed and drug out of the hive.

???

Loving the 3/8 x 4" bottom board entrance.  The guard bees are lined up shoulder to shoulder like a wall.  Watched them repel two ants and a hive beetle.

[Ben Framed]

Bee population zooming but no sign of the blue acid towel being gnawed and drug out of the hive.

???

Loving the 3/8 x 4" bottom board entrance.  The guard bees are lined up shoulder to shoulder like a wall.  Watched them repel two ants and a hive beetle.

The bees are a tidy creature. They do not seem to like foreign objects in their hive. I have done cutouts using runner bands to hold  combs in frames. The bees will go ahead and attach the cut out comb to the frame but will also cut the rubber bands and drag out the ones that they can.

[van from Arkansas]

Ben, I have seen the same thing, cut thick rubber bands.  The bees must have a very strong bite to cut through rubber.

[FatherMichael]

Plan to get in there tomorrow to see what's going on.

Should have emerging brood from the new queen.  It's been 21 days and saw larvae the last time I worked the hive.

[FatherMichael]

Didn't get in there today; my assistant beekeeper had to work late.

But there were new bees taking orientation.  I assume that they are from the new queen, given the timing, and they look like Italians as promised.

Thinking I'll add a super tomorrow in advance of Mesquite bloom, since it is warm enough also for adding space.

Thanks for reading my posts.  I'm excited about getting back into beekeeping after all this time.

[Ben Framed]

Ben, I have seen the same thing, cut thick rubber bands.  The bees must have a very strong bite to cut through rubber.

Posted by: FatherMichael
? on: Today at 09:34:40 pm ? Insert Quote
Didn't get in there today; my assistant beekeeper had to work late.

But there were new bees taking orientation.  I assume that they are from the new queen, given the timing, and they look like Italians as promised.

Thinking I'll add a super tomorrow in advance of Mesquite bloom, since it is warm enough also for adding space.

Thanks for reading my posts.  I'm excited about getting back into beekeeping after all this time.

@ van Yes sir, they are hard workers to boot. It takes strength along with sharp pinchers, in order to cut those rubber bands. I have tried to picture in my mind, the exact timing of the breaking of the rubber band and how it must look at that moment, and how it must startle the hive when it pops!!

Its amazing how those small creatures work so hard to cut and drag out such an object.


@ Pastor Michale. I have wondered how mesquite honey may taste. I am confident that it is very good. What are you thoughts on Mesquite honey?
Phillip

[FatherMichael]

Mesquite honey is very light in color and taste, Phillip.  It's usually mixed with summer wildflowers so that gives it some texture.

Just saw some Mesquite starting to bloom today.  Looks like warm-to-hot weather is finally upon us.  Don't remember such a cool, wet spring.

[Ben Framed]

Mesquite honey is very light in color and taste, Phillip.  It's usually mixed with summer wildflowers so that gives it some texture.

Just saw some Mesquite starting to bloom today.  Looks like warm-to-hot weather is finally upon us.  Don't remember such a cool, wet spring.

Your description of this type honey sounds good. I realize you are just getting started and I do not know your expectations for honey this season. However,  I am wishing for you a bountiful honey crop that is beyond your expectations. We have also, in my area, had likewise weather. It is so nice and pleasant at the  present time here in North Mississippi. My wife and I are sitting on our screen porch enjoy the blessing.

[FatherMichael]

Your description of this type honey sounds good. I realize you are just getting started and I do not know your expectations for honey this season. However,  I am wishing for you a bountiful honey crop that is beyond your expectations. We have also, in my area, had likewise weather. It is so nice and pleasant at the  present time here in North Mississippi. My wife and I are sitting on our screen porch enjoy the blessing.

Awesome!

Just came in from working the hive with my excellent assistant, Mary.

Everything looks good with new larvae and newly capped brood on newly drawn comb.

Seemed to be no gnawing of the oxalic shop towel.  But added the medium super so there might be traffic over it now and an incentive to remove it.  We'll see.

I've always dreamed of having a screened porch.

[Ben Framed]

Your description of this type honey sounds good. I realize you are just getting started and I do not know your expectations for honey this season. However,  I am wishing for you a bountiful honey crop that is beyond your expectations. We have also, in my area, had likewise weather. It is so nice and pleasant at the  present time here in North Mississippi. My wife and I are sitting on our screen porch enjoy the blessing.

Awesome!

Just came in from working the hive with my excellent assistant, Mary.

Everything looks good with new larvae and newly capped brood on newly drawn comb.

Seemed to be no gnawing of the oxalic shop towel.  But added the medium super so there might be traffic over it now and an incentive to remove it.  We'll see.

I've always dreamed of having a screened porch.

Congratulations with having your assistant Mary! My wife does not care to be close and upfront 😊😁. I have not tried the oxalic shop towel method, so you have my attention and interest with your use.

[BeeMaster2]

Isn?t it nice to have your best friend as your bee partner. My wife also helps me and keep me in line if I forget something.
Jim Altmiller