What's flowering: Queensland

max2 · June 30, 2020, 10:30:05 PM

It is nice and very mild here at the moment and I took the opportunity to have a look at some hives.

A very mixed bunch:
- some are doing rather poorly but have some honey coming in
- some are bursting at the seems with honey and brood - frames of brood and they could be split if it was two months later and we could get queens:)
- too many SHB - they must know something. It has been too warm this winter so far. A few chilly mornings but generally quite warm

The Blue Gum and Ironbark are flowering here now.
Both generally flower for many months and this is a positive.

Milo · July 01, 2020, 10:38:58 AM

Out of interest what is the species of Eucalyptus (tereticornis?) you call ?Blue Gum?

Just that there are so many referred to as Blue Gum along the eastern sea board and I?m interested

max2 · July 02, 2020, 01:54:57 PM

Hi Milo,

yes, it is E. tereticornis.

Common names can be confusing. The " Blue Gum" is locally also known as " Forest Red Gum".
I should use Botanical names more.

Bee North · July 05, 2020, 06:37:37 AM

Quote from: max2 on June 30, 2020, 10:30:05 PM

- some are bursting at the seems with honey and brood - frames of brood and they could be split if it was two months later and we could get queens:)
- too many SHB - they must know something. It has been too warm this winter so far. A few chilly mornings but generally quite warm

Yep...I agree Max.

My girls think its spring and no reduction in SHB! They are strong, and like you say I would be making some nucs but there are no drones yet. I'm itching to try grafting this spring.

I'm about to go to work for a month. I expect my hives will be bursting when I get back!

I took honey off all my hives this week to give them room. Even my hives which were nucs i made in March! ...lots of freshly capped white wax.

I dont think next season will be the same for me though.
A big wet season is being predicted as a high possibility, so that will bring my girls to a screaming halt...always good for our farmers though. Probably better for you guys down the coast a bit too.

The melaleuca are in full glory on the coast and up on the tablelands. Out of reach from my girls which may be a positive for me as my honey is coming in light and sweet.

mat1 · July 07, 2020, 09:02:39 AM

So max if you had drones you would be thinking of splitting soon. I was in mine on sunday had plenty of drones and a good amount of drone brood too.

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Bee North · July 08, 2020, 01:14:14 AM

Hi Max 1

Where are your hives?

mat1 · July 08, 2020, 01:37:12 AM

I'm about 50ks from max

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Bee North · July 08, 2020, 01:56:40 AM

Well it sounds like your girls are happy...enjoy "spring"!

mat1 · July 08, 2020, 02:58:49 AM

Thank you my friend

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max2 · July 11, 2020, 07:01:12 PM

The Paulownias are in full bud (https://worldofhoneybees.com/paulownia-tomentosa-princess-tree/)
They never disapoint and will flower here every year.
The bees love them. They will even work the flowers when they have fallen of the tree.

There are a few plantations in our area but they all failed as a timber production and have been negelcted.

We had some rain - not much - in the last few days and it will keep things going.

max2 · July 13, 2020, 01:37:18 PM

mat 1 said: " So max if you had drones you would be thinking of splitting soon. I was in mine on sunday had plenty of drones and a good amount of drone brood too."

No - I would want to see more trees flowering, better conditions for the queen to mate.

Here, late August into September is about as early as I could expect a successful split.

But then beekeeping is a very local adventure:)

mat1 · July 13, 2020, 05:49:07 PM

Thanks so much max. Have the best week.

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max2 · July 20, 2020, 01:02:58 AM

The weather forecast is for some useful rain over quite a large area.

We need it!

There is little subsoil moisture and a couple of inches would make a huge difference.
It has been much too warm here - some chill in the morning but today we went to the mid-20C again.
Not much like winter.

max

max2 · August 04, 2020, 04:42:37 AM

Just back from NSW.
Travelling down the New England Hwy it was very dry still.
Coming back from the coast via Lismore and Kyogle into Qld it all looked much better.
Never seen so much Fireweed flowering. The bees will love it.
Across the border to about ESK the Blue Gum is flowering. Dry around Kilcoy but quite Ok towards the coast.
They say more rain on the way.
While Iwas away Witta had 75mm, Nambour 60mm and we had 30mm - could do with a lot more.

max2 · August 09, 2020, 07:28:55 PM

I checked some hives and some honey is coming in - going by the smell I would say it is Blue Gum honey. I hear the same from a beekeepr up Gympie way.

The E toreliana are budding heavily and should be quite a show in a few weeks

Bee North · August 10, 2020, 12:34:17 AM

That's good news Max!
Its all happening up here too. I will be taking honey off to give them room later this week.
I've got drones and one hive was drawing queen cells...lucky I got it in time. I only got home a couple of days ago.
I lost a swarm a week from now last year so it looks like history repeating
Time to make up nucs!

max2 · August 14, 2020, 01:12:52 AM

Hi Bee North,
you are well ahead of us.
I had a look at a few hives and definitely no drones and nil drone brood.

I will check a few more on Sunday - weather permitting and will report back.
What are SHB numbers like?

Bee North · August 14, 2020, 02:27:49 AM

Still a lot of SHB!
Hives are very strong and building rapidly!
I grafted this week for the first time because I need to split now and i am happy to say they accepted 18 from 20....hopefully I get most of the cells finished.

max2 · August 14, 2020, 04:04:04 AM

Well done!!

Keep us posted
max

Bee North · August 14, 2020, 07:47:49 AM

Thanks Max....will do.