🐝💗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.

 

[Sally PB]

Oh, sorry, @R2elk, I thought you were the one to give those measurements.

 

[R2elk]

Oh, sorry, @R2elk, I thought you were the one to give those measurements.

160°F is important to me because it is the temperature that I use to scald poultry.

It is also important for honey. Never heat honey above 160°F.

"Heating honey above 160°F for any period causes rapid degradation and caramelization."

For making sugar syrup, I boil the water which is well above 160°F.

 

[drstratton]

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.

Thank you, that's very helpful.

 

[drstratton]

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.

My bees are still bringing in pollen and some nectar. But I'm sure not to the extent yours are. Hopefully once we get the sweet clover, bee plant and other late blooming stuff in, that will help them. The Rabbit Brush and Sagebrush are still in full bloom.