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.

Late Winter Check

I went out to the Island yesterday to check the hives - four had a few bees out for cleansing runs, so I assume these have made it so far. Temperature was in the low 40s so the other three hives may also be still going. Too cold to feed but will put on pollen patties in a few weeks. Still about a foot of snow on the ground - it is really still winter...

Summer 2010 Recap

I have again been negligent about keeping up with this blog, so will summarize the remainder of 2010 in this post and try to be more diligent in 2011.

We had two good honey harvests in our kitchen in July and August - mostly from two hives but extracted about 100 pounds in the two rounds of harvesting. Did both extractions in the kitchen with only a little mess.

Lost one of the eight hives to either CCD or a bum queen - have was completely empty, which is not the typical symptom of CCD. But went into the fall with seven hives. Medicated, put on mouse guards (after shooing a mouse and nest out of one hive) and tucked in for the winter. I have painted the deeps dark green this year so did not wrap them.

It has been very cold and snowy this winter and I have not been out to inspect them. But our caretaker has been by on occasion to make sure that snow drifts are not blocking the hive entrances.

Next planned trip out will be mid to late March to feed pollen patties, and then mid April to start spring sugar-water feeding.

Summer Beeyard Update

It has been some time since I have updated this blog with News from the Bee Yard, so I will do one big update.

Six hives successfully overwintered and are coming along with various results. Two are going very well, or were until both hives swarmed. I have I think two or three full supers from each. The other four are doing okay - one, a swarm from last summer, is only now building up. I have supers on all six hives.

Regarding swarms, this has been a good year. I have had good success with swarm traps - five out in various spots with lemongrass oil. Captured three swarms - gave one away hived one about a month ago, and the third I am in the process of removing from the trap (looks like a large flower pot and a bit complicated to cut out the comb and put into empty frames). Just moved this swarm into a hive a few days ago and into the bee yard early this morning before they started their daily foraging. Will go back to check and feed them later today.

The bee yard is now mowed - uncovered an early-1800s stone wall at the lower end - likely build by the Skillins family before they outgrew the island and moved to Peaks Island.

Mayday Inspection

The hives are going gangbusters. Four of them are doing very well and will probably need to the split soon to keep them from swarming. Will try this in a few weeks. One of the other hives was quite ornery when I opened it - many guard bees were after me from 30 yards out and during my inspections of other hives. Tested my faith in my bee suit.

Spring is early this year so I have put supers on the four established hives. If this keeps up I should have an extraction party Fourth of July weekend. Also planning to process beeswax using my new turkey fryer.

I have put out swarm traps early this year - they were effective last summer keeping swarms out of houses. I also kept a log of where I put them so I do not forget one or two like last year.

Did some brush clearing in the bee yard to make it a bit larger and expose the old stone wall at the lower end. I do not think this helps the bees at all, but it looks tidy.

Good Friday Inspection

Did a quick trip out to feed the hives including some spring medication. All six hives are still going - four of them doing very well and the two swarms from last summer doing okay. Trees and flowers not quite in bloom so glad I was able to feed them. The bee yard looks great this time of year - the ferns at the far end are not up so the old 19th century stone wall is visible.