Louisiana Bees In Mississippi

JP · April 12, 2009, 07:54:16 PM

Well I did it. I put three hives on our property in Mississippi. I think we'll get some honey and then some.

Right now wild raspberries, blackberries, clover (I planted) and thistle are blooming.

Soon privet will be blooming, there's a ton of it in the area.

I took a ton of pics. Last three are of a yearling Whitetail deer that popped out of the woods.

My wife said "lets put a hundred hives on our land."

For now we have three but I will be bringing more up with me. Somewhere between 10 and 15 is my goal this year on our property.

It was fun watching the bees work the clover that I planted. Next season, I will plant some sweet yellow clover.

Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/pyxicephalus/April122009?authkey=Gv1sRgCKPu162Ku6OXrQE#

...JP

fermentedhiker · April 12, 2009, 08:18:19 PM

Nice looking field you have there. I'm a little jealous, mine is still all dead and brown. The grass is just starting to poke up through the ground. I'm chomping at the bit to get my packages now, especially since my one hive went dead. Unfortunately the weather turned cold and rainy this weekend so I couldn't do the cutout, maybe this week though.

JP · April 12, 2009, 08:25:29 PM

We left to come back a little early as bad weather was brewing. Good luck with your cut out.

Y'all see those Japanese plums, a lil bit towards the end? I never see fruit on them. Anybody have any ideas as to why not? Wrong sex trees? Poorly pollentated, can fix that. Need fertilizer?

Please let me know what you guys and girls in the know think.

Thanks.

...JP

iddee · April 12, 2009, 08:35:11 PM

I don't know a thing about plants, but I will tell you a story. I knew a man who set out over 30 walnut trees. After ten years, none ever bared. He gave up and used them as live fence posts, using iron nails. The next year, and thereafter, they bore like crazy. The old timers in the area said his ground didn't have enough iron in it. The nails gave them the iron they needed. Since that time, I have been told that is why people used to hang a horseshoe in the fork of all young fruit trees. Others say they sprinkle iron filings from the machine shop on the ground around their fruit and nut trees.

JP · April 12, 2009, 08:38:09 PM

Nice story Iddee, very cool. Will give it a think.

...JP

DixieBee · April 12, 2009, 09:23:00 PM

In regards to the iron for trees and old timers, I grew up in horticulture with a background of most things farm or related to agriculture. Proper nutrients, minerals, and trace elements are critical for growth and reproduction. Also my GrandFather was old school Penn.-Dutch farm boy and let me tell you those old remedies are quite often better and cheaper than modern alternatives.

Allan

Cindi · April 13, 2009, 11:35:57 PM

JP, your just going like crazy with all your bees. I liked the colour of the green hive bodies against the white, pretty. About the Japanese plum, I can't stand mine. I have cut it down a few times, moved it a few times and it just keeps going. It bears fruit now and then but I can't stand those stinkin' little burgundy plums that are so sweet on the outside and bitter to the bone in the center near the pit. I do wonder why they don't get those little plums too, perhaps nutrient. Anyways, good luck, eat those plums if they ever grow on and think of the bitterness you won't enjoy, smiling. Have that great, most wonderful day, health. Cindi

Natalie · April 13, 2009, 11:39:33 PM

You weren't kidding when you said your wife was getting interested in the bees with you!!
Congratulations on the new endeavor.

annette · April 13, 2009, 11:48:13 PM

When I look at these photos, I go "Oh my God". So, so beautiful up there. The hives look great and it looks very lush.
Good Luck at this new location
Annette

JP · April 13, 2009, 11:57:58 PM

Thanks everyone! We do love our property, and the bees seem to love it as well. Can't wait to see how they do.

Hey Cindi, you are one of a kind, truly my dear. Those Japanese plums are certainly not for everyone, but I think they're ok.

What's weird is you have to eat them right after you pick them or they go brown, really fast.

I guess one could freeze them, I don't know.

Hey, I just had one in my mind from one of those trees that don't bear and they were pretty good, or were they? :-D ;)

...JP

mick · April 14, 2009, 07:00:39 AM

I thought you were gunna say "lets shoot it"!

100 hives, if you can do that, thats good income.

Nice block of land, nice to see the trees growing back, looks nice and moist and GREEN, good luck to you both!

pdmattox · April 14, 2009, 08:55:21 AM

Looking good JP. I think beekeeping will be even more fun now that your wife is getting into it. My wife went to rob honey with me for the first time and was amazed and wants to do more now as well. How could someone see the beauty and wonders of the bees and not want to know/do more. :) Good luck JP and we will be seeing each other very soon.

kdm · April 14, 2009, 09:58:51 AM

JP very nice looking piece of property. When you plant the sweet clover plant it in the early fall to get blooms next year. If you plant it next spring it won't bloom till the next year. Walter T Kelly bee supplies has white & yellow sweet clover mix. The yellow blooms first then the white. This gives you a longer honey flow. Good Luck to you & yours

JP · April 14, 2009, 10:36:38 AM

Thanks Kdm. My buddy planted the clover for me in three spots, he really did a great job.

He was very particular in that we had to get all of the grass up before we planted and use the right amount of lime and fertilizer.

The clover is going on its 3rd season and we planted it in the fall along with buck forage oats and winter wheat, the latter being planted for the deer.

My job has been to cut it and fertilize it occasionally with 0-20-20.

I will keep this clover going for a while, but will plant the sweet yellow/white mix from Kelly perhaps next fall on some other areas.

The 100 hive thing, I just don't see that happening right now, unless the wife, really, really gets involved, and then with my busy schedule, don't know if I could properly manage that many even between the two of us.

But we will be adding more soon!

...JP

Brian D. Bray · April 15, 2009, 03:14:52 AM

QuoteY'all see those Japanese plums, a lil bit towards the end? I never see fruit on them. Anybody have any ideas as to why not? Wrong sex trees? Poorly pollentated, can fix that. Need fertilizer?

A lot of Japanese Plum trees are oranimental only. Depends on the type. Those that do have fruit aren't much good, the fruit spoils rapidly and they're about the same size as a cherry with a larger stone.

TwT · April 15, 2009, 05:19:30 AM

Quote from: JP on April 12, 2009, 07:54:16 PM
Well I did it. I put three hives on our property in Mississippi. I think we'll get some honey and then some.

Right now wild raspberries, blackberries, clover (I planted) and thistle are blooming.

Soon privet will be blooming, there's a ton of it in the area.

I took a ton of pics. Last three are of a yearling Whitetail deer that popped out of the woods.

My wife said "lets put a hundred hives on our land."

For now we have three but I will be bringing more up with me. Somewhere between 10 and 15 is my goal this year on our property.

It was fun watching the bees work the clover that I planted. Next season, I will plant some sweet yellow clover.

Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/pyxicephalus/April122009?authkey=Gv1sRgCKPu162Ku6OXrQE#

...JP

they will not do good the first 20 years ;) , going from being Cajun bee's to Mississippi Hillbilly Red Neck bee's, they might get sick!!!!! Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! j/k ;)

JP · April 15, 2009, 09:07:12 AM

Well, Ted, we shall see about that! Is that why your bees don't produce all that much? :lau:

Where you from again, Satsuma? :-D

Brian and Cindi, I happen to like Japanese plums, for what its worth, just wouldn't plan them on my own volition, there just ain't much to 'em really.

...JP

TwT · April 15, 2009, 02:17:43 PM

Quote from: JP on April 15, 2009, 09:07:12 AM
Where you from again, Satsuma? :-D

shoot no, Denham Springs ;)

Cindi · April 17, 2009, 01:11:58 AM

Quote from: JP on April 15, 2009, 09:07:12 AM

Brian and Cindi, I happen to like Japanese plums, for what its worth, just wouldn't plan them on my own volition, there just ain't much to 'em really.
...JP

Well JP, you just go hav-at-it. Hope your face goes all crinkly and shrinkly when you get to that bitter pit that encompasses most of the fruit, hee, hee. Someone has to like those plums, and I'd say, let it be you, smiling. Have the best of this most wonderful great day, groove on groovin'. AND....health wishes to us all. Cindi