What's flowering: Queensland

[Ben Framed]

The solution is : Don't  panic...DON'T PANIC

How can you panic when you are dead with a heart attack?  j/k....
Max are there a lot of these type bites in your country each year?

[max2]

3000 to 5000.
About 2000 Spider

https://www.bing.com/search?q=how%20many%20snake%20bites%20in%20australia%20per%20year&pc=COSP&ptag=A102D3A05EB&form=CONBNT

Plan to visit?

[Ben Framed]

3000 to 5000.
About 2000 Spider

https://www.bing.com/search?q=how%20many%20snake%20bites%20in%20australia%20per%20year&pc=COSP&ptag=A102D3A05EB&form=CONBNT

Plan to visit?

Yes I would like that. Actually I have always been interested in visiting your country.

[max2]

Australia is a lovely place. Generally friendly people, lots to see.

m

[max2]

I went to the Gympie area ( about 30 min West of Gympie)

It is a lovely drive through the small town of Kenilworth and past Imbil and Kandanga.

The landscape changes from beef farms to Dairy Country to a small pocket of Rainforest and a lot of open forest ( mainly Eucalypt) country.

The Blue Gum ( E tereticorys) is just starting flower. The flowers are not open in my valley here - but close. Blue Gum ( also known as Forest Red Gum) is a fantastic bee tree as it often flowers for a long time and can yield well - nectar and pollen.

The Tallow wood is flowering too - a lovely thing to see. It is not of great value for nectar but a good pollen tree at a critical time.

Thanks to good rain over the last few months White Clover is starting to flower too. It does best in the wet areas near the road. A bit more rain and it will yield well.

All looking great.

Too ealy to make splits but I can see a very busy time as soon as we see some drones in our hives.
It will be a matter of making splits and taking honey off.

I got the gear just about ready.

[Bee North]

That's exciting news Max.

Looks like a great start to your year. I'm happy for you.

I'm at work and wont be home for another two weeks.

There wasnt much happening when I left 2 weeks ago. But the sun is out at home and the sky is clear, so fingers crossed something is happening.

If last year is anything to go by....I might be grafting when I get home!

Yes....the gear is ready and waiting.

Happy days!

[max2]

It is a shame that work interferes with the real stuff!

Been there, done that.

[Bee North]

Tell me about it!!!!

[max2]

I checked a few hives yesterday and they are full of honey. No drones as yet - too early to split. few SHB - thank goodness.

Some hives are definitely honey bound .
I think we are in for an early swarm season.

[max2]

We are in lock down here.

We took some honey off as the temperature was in the high 20's ( C). We still have a month of winter ahead and I wonder what is going on?

It is thick stuff, not flowing easy and clogging up the screens.

The hives are full of honey and bees - definitely honey bound.
Very few SHB.

I got a few more warm days before the weather turns mild again - too cool to take honey off.

[max2]

The white clover is flowering in a paddock across the river from us - promising!

[max2]

16. 8.21  The Brazilian Cherries are flowering. It sounds like a swarm has landed when you walk past them

[Bee North]

It's all happening down there Max!
A very slow start this year up here. Nothing in the rainforest.
Eucalyptus Grandis or "red gum" is flowering on the tablelands. Not enough to be a flow yet.

[max2]

Hi Bee North,

I took more honey off today.
The smell of honey in the air is amazing.
Yes, it is all happening down here.

On the way to one of my yards the Paulownias are flowering. Maybe just a touch to far away for my bees.

I have seen some drones - just a few - but more drone brood.


I still need to add some supers on to some of my hives to make some room for queens to lay.

Most of the hives should be OK if they do what they usually do - shift  honey from the brood box into the honey super.

I would not be surprised if we take more honey off in a few weeks.
keep well
max

[Bee North]

Good to hear Max.

[max2]

26. August -Budburst on the Liquid Amber - about the same as last year

[max2]

We had a Beekeeping Workshop here last Saturday and opened a few hives.

We saw enoough drones for me to take the risk and make the first 3 splits today.
I will check in a few days to see if they are making queens - I reckon the bees know better than i do when the time is right. Swarming gives me the green light to go ahead.

[Ben Framed]

Good luck Max..

[max2]

Thanks!
It seems a bit early for splits but I think it is worth the risk.

This year I plan to make a few every few days when the weather is suitable.
I have Bursitis in my left shoulder and have to spread the work to avoid constant soreness.

To lift 10 frame supers I will need a helper. Itried last year and taking them off with some honey was still possible but putting them back was a real challenge.
Looks like the years are catching up with me.

[Ben Framed]

Max have you checked out the topic here Hive Lifts? You might find it useful.

Phillip

Thanks!
It seems a bit early for splits but I think it is worth the risk.

This year I plan to make a few every few days when the weather is suitable.
I have Bursitis in my left shoulder and have to spread the work to avoid constant soreness.

To lift 10 frame supers I will need a helper. Itried last year and taking them off with some honey was still possible but putting them back was a real challenge.
Looks like the years are catching up with me.