Maine Hive Check

reinbeau · February 18, 2008, 06:27:00 PM

We were up to the house this past weekend, those girls are tucked into all of the snow we've had up there - it's a real Maine winter this year!

In front of those hives there's space, the landing board and a bit of the snow is melted away from the mouseguards - there are tons of dead bees in that hollow. I didn't get a shot. I'm hoping it's because they're excellent housekeepers and just can't make it out of the hollow to get rid of the bodies. In the full resolution picture of the close-up hives in the snow you can see the bee poop and other bodies they were able to get further away. I do hope those hives make it.....

We've ordered two nucs for up there, and four more packages for down here. Hopefully most won't be replacements for deadouts!

Kirk-o · February 18, 2008, 08:53:49 PM

What a great picture.It reminded me of Utah in the 70's
kirko

JP · February 18, 2008, 08:56:00 PM

Wish you much luck with these hives Ann. Those sure are some nice pictures!

....JP

annette · February 18, 2008, 11:55:47 PM

Love your green hives. Everything so neat and tidy

reinbeau · February 19, 2008, 08:42:08 AM

Thank you, Annette. I do love that color myself. :)

Robo · February 19, 2008, 08:58:09 AM

Nice pics, thanks for sharing.

Hope there is another entrance besides the back deck, or you better get busy shoveling :-P

BMAC · February 19, 2008, 09:07:02 AM

thats what the ladder is for Robo. Play like Santa......

CBEE · February 19, 2008, 09:34:22 AM

I didnt know John Deere sold hives :-D :-D
I cant let my daughter see those pics.. She is John Deere crazy. I'll end up having to paint all mine JD green and the tops yellow :-D

Cindi · February 19, 2008, 10:13:52 AM

Ann, beauty!!!! Lovely pictures, and yes that green is attractive. I think that judging by the amount of snow melted there is some pretty good heat going on in there, heat, bees, extremely good chances that they are gonna be flyin' high soon!!!! Very cold up there eh? I still can't get over the beautiful pictures of the bee houses in the snow I have seen, beautiful for surely. Sounds like you have great plans for increasing your hive numbers, yeah!!! Good for you, you are gonna have your hands full between pilates and bees, hee, hee. Have the most wonderful and best day, love life. Cindi

woodchopper · February 19, 2008, 12:36:30 PM

Quote from: Robo on February 19, 2008, 08:58:09 AM
Nice pics, thanks for sharing.

Hope there is another entrance besides the back deck, or you better get busy shoveling :-P

Our neighbor plowed our driveway the best he could but the snow had already turned to rain before he started. Our front door was all drifted in with a lot of ice thrown into the mix. Next time we go up we'll do a better job cleaning up the mess.

Understudy · February 19, 2008, 05:56:46 PM

My favorite color.
The hives not the nasty white stuff around them. :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

reinbeau · February 19, 2008, 08:41:38 PM

Quote from: Understudy on February 19, 2008, 05:56:46 PM
My favorite color.
The hives not the nasty white stuff around them. :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

I know you find this really hard to believe, Brendhan, but some of us really do like that white stuff. Lots of it! That's why we live here in New England, we're not stuck, we enjoy all four of the seasons and everything they have to offer. ;)

Understudy · February 19, 2008, 09:33:48 PM

Quote from: reinbeau on February 19, 2008, 08:41:38 PM
Quote from: Understudy on February 19, 2008, 05:56:46 PM
My favorite color.
The hives not the nasty white stuff around them. :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

I know you find this really hard to believe, Brendhan, but some of us really do like that white stuff. Lots of it! That's why we live here in New England, we're not stuck, we enjoy all four of the seasons and everything they have to offer. ;)

I have heard the reponse "I like having the seasons" from lots of people who live up north and then they retire to Florida.

I also tell them Florida has two seasons, hot and hotter.

Snow has it's place under me as I *cough*gracefully*cough* snowboard down the mountain top.

However the idea of having to get up and shovel my sidewalk because the local municiplality will fine me if I don't lacks appeal. Having to try and find a virgin to sacrifice to the car gods so my car will start in -24 degree weather just causes me to twitch.

I help deal with these nightmare scenerios by drinking frozen margaritas in my backyard. Did I mention Friday's high will be 83F/28C?

I understand that people enjoy the snow and the seasons. I understand that medical technology is coming out with a pill to help that condition. :-D

Sincerely,
Brendhan

reinbeau · February 19, 2008, 10:16:15 PM

Well you can be sure you'll never have to share Florida with us - we're retiring to Maine. That's right, where winter is winter, the way we like it! No pills for us. The older I get (I'm 51 now) the less I can tolerate the heat. So you're safe down there, away from us crazy winter lovers. :lol:

reinbeau · February 29, 2008, 05:08:11 PM

Updated today - Greg is up there shoveling snow off the roof, etc, and he brought up some more fondant. Turns out we didn't need it, they haven't totally eaten what we gave them in January, however, all three hives are still alive, two are strong, and one he says is really foaming! He just popped the lids and put in the new fondant anyways, hive 1 and 2 were very loud in response (but no one flew up, it's too cold) but hive 3 was really teaming with bees. Thank goodness! Maybe this will be our year for honey up in Maine! :)

ooptec · February 29, 2008, 05:31:13 PM

Yea I'll second the won't see me retiring any where w/o 4 seasons.

Cars work wonderfully well and don't need to be plugged in unless below -4Â°F and that cold a weather never lasts for very long. Plugged in they work well till -22Â°F. Below that they'll work but if there is any weak link like a poor battery or worn out anything it will surely show up then.

It doesn't snow every day and shoveling snow where it's actually cold is a dottle compared to places that get a storm and then melts as then the snow weighs a ton in comparison.

Also distinct lack of 'bugs' except mosquitos and I think they are prob. everywhere. lol

cheers

peter

reinbeau · March 02, 2008, 08:10:28 PM

I wonder if it's ever going to melt?? This is after the eight inches we got up there Saturday - that roof had been shoveled the previous week, that's how much fell over the whole week. The hives are being swallowed by snow! Greg did take a narrow shovel and clear the area right in front of each hive (mind you, he walked right over that (turned off) electric fence without post-holing!). He said there was a layer of ice there, where the snow had been melted by the heat coming out of the entrances.