First Inspection 2014

I did the first inspection of the 2014 season on Good Friday. Still snow on the ground...

The good news is that three of the four hives going into the fall have made it through the long cold snowy winter. Two of the hives are thriving (and aggressive). The third one I did not expect to make it, but was pleasantly surprised (with emphasis on surprise) when I opened the hive to clean it out and was met with a number of pretty tired looking bees....

The bad news is that the winter snow drifts allowed mice to nibble away at the apple trees above the screening so girdled quite a few of them.  I have ordered replacements and now know better for next fall....  I have also ordered some peach trees and wildflower seeds to expand the forage for the bees in the future. The bee yard clearing is now about two acres of of fruit trees, ground cover, bee pond and hives.

I have two packages on order to pick up the first weekend of May, so will shortly be up to five hives. Also, to of the hives are pretty aggressive (last year I tried to do what became a run-away as fast as aI can split) where they chased me about a quarter mile. I plan to split these two hives and then requeen with a more gentle variety (the current queens are Russian and keep muttering about Ukraine; I plan on Buckfast queens which were raised by monks).

Expanding the Bee Yard

I planted 12 apple trees this weekend in the new clearing. Quite a lot of work to get them in but they are  nicely lined up hopefully will settle in. A number of trees are now in the open with the clearing, so I have been trimming and getting the bittersweet out of them.

So I now have pears and plums from two years ago, these apple trees and replacement raspberries. Our caretaker mentioned that another cleared site would be good for trees so I am thinking of a few cherry trees.

First Inspection of the Season

First trip to the Island and to the bee yard for the season. The yard looks in good shape. I toured the space with Larry (the island horticultural caretaker) and will be clearing some to enlarge it a bit this spring - removing probably 50 years of invasive species that have taken over Farm Hill. If the additional space looks good (about  half an acre) will consider planting a small apple orchard near the top of the hill. Larry also upgraded the soil in the raspberry patch so I will replant this as well. The pond is pretty mucked up so I have to drain and clean it up.

The one hive that was still going in the fall has made it this far - I fed the hive with fondant - ungrateful bugs, they were all over me and very mad - good thing I had my bee suit on.

I also set up two hives for the packages that are due the beginning of May. Should be interesting - I pick them up early morning of the first ferry boat of the season and will bring them out with me on the morning ferry - that should keep everyone awake....

And Another Season

Really. I will be better this year.

Last summer was eventful. Both hives swarmed in June - captured one of them and have no idea where the other one went.  I saw them both just after leaving their hives and heading high into trees...

And both remaining hives either had dud queens or lost them, so down to one hive going into winter.

I plan to head out to the Island in a few weeks for winter feeding (I know it is late but have been working in Italy most of the winter). Ordered two packages from Overland with pick-up early morning of the first ferry boat of the season - should add some excitement to that boat.

Another Bee Season Starts!

I am really going to try to be better this year with updates about beekeeping on Cushings. Really.

Last year was not terribly successful - between traveling much of the summer, and generally poor weather at critical times during nectar flow in May and June, I had a very small honey crop in 2011. Very little swarming (that I know of) and one swarm went into a hive that was a dead-out from the prior winter. But we had one good honey extraction in our kitchen and was able to bottle and give to each helper a little 2 oz. bear bottle with honey they just extracted.

I went into winter with four hives in pretty good health, expecting to lose two of them by now. The good news is I got a report today from our Caretaker that three hives are showing signs of life. I am heading up this weekend to feed them candy boards which I hope will keep them going until I get back to feed them in early May.

Not What I Was Expecting

I finally got up to the Island for the day today to inspect and feed the hives. I dug into them and unfortunately only three made it through the winter - none of the swarms from last summer survived. It looks like the cold got to them - some honey stores remaining, no signs of disease, and the bees were head-in to the comb.

But the remaining hives look healthy and in good shape! Planning to split the most robust hive (the one on the right in this picture) - need to order a queen for the split.

First Check of Spring

I received a phone call last week from Sam Meacham, who was out on the Island and passing through the bee yard. According to Sam, five hives have signs of bee activity - the remaining two hives did not have any activity, but it was a bit chilly that day.

I am heading out Sunday to feed them, remove the mouse guards and start spring clean-up. Still a bit early to reverse the hives or put on supers I think. Depends on whether the temperature is warm enough tomorrow for me to do a detailed inspection, or just put on top feeders.