🐝💗Our Backyard Beekeeping Journey!💗🐝

[drstratton]

I've seen a lot of bumble bees this year too. They find the flowers honey bees like first, it seems. I saw them on goldenrod and the asters before I saw our bees.

Found this one going after the Salvia a few days ago.

 

[drstratton]

Rocky Mountain Bee Plant seeds
View attachment 4224879

I want to get ours planted so bad. I need to be home to get that done though...lol

 

[drstratton]

Yes, not a very good golfer but lots of fun with the wife and kids. Rare to catch bumblebees during mating season. Highlight of the game for me.

I'm not a very good golfer anymore. To many arm and wrist injuries. I keep trying. Right now, I just enjoy being out with my husband, who is a good golfer... since he retired it's his day job! I also like to go out with my friends.

I've never seen bumblebees mating, that really was a great catch.

 

[drstratton]

Making 1:1 is easy. 2:1 not so much. What is the best way to make it? Would love to know what processes our experienced beekeepers use. Thank you!

 

[Sally PB]

2:1 method for me: (I'll use R2Elk's measurements here)

Pour 4 quarts of water in big sauce pot, heat to 160° or so. Put pot in the sink. (It's lower than the stove top for easier pouring, and should I spill some sugar outside the pot, the mess is contained.)

Pour 4 quarts of sugar into the water. Stir a bit. Pour in another 4 quarts of sugar. Stir until dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.

I made some last night, and I think I stirred it for 2-3 minutes. You can tell when it's done: you stop hearing the gritty sound when you stir.

 

[R2elk]

2:1 method for me: (I'll use R2Elk's measurements here)

Pour 4 quarts of water in big sauce pot, heat to 160° or so. Put pot in the sink. (It's lower than the stove top for easier pouring, and should I spill some sugar outside the pot, the mess is contained.)

Pour 4 quarts of sugar into the water. Stir a bit. Pour in another 4 quarts of sugar. Stir until dissolved. Let cool to room temperature.

I made some last night, and I think I stirred it for 2-3 minutes. You can tell when it's done: you stop hearing the gritty sound when you stir.

Not my method.

I don't make 2:1, ever. I use 1:1 in the spring.

I bring up the set amount of water needed to make "x" number of quarts up to a boil. Boil for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, pour in an equal amount of sugar. Stir as it quickly dissolves.

At this time of year, the local flowers/weeds are still blooming very well. Currently the bees are hitting the sweet clover, sowthistle, gum weed, alfalfa, pumpkins and malva zebrina.