🐝💗Our Backyard Beekeeping Journey!💗🐝

[drstratton]

Hubby wants a "real" winter this year with lots of snow THAT DOESN'T MELT THE NEXT DAY! he says.

What's wrong with that man?

It can snow in the mountains all it wants. I really hope we don't get much this year. A short cold snap in January or February will be fine and we're used to that, kill off some of the unwanted bugs.

 

[Sally PB]

1. Enough cold to kill off the bad bugs, but not too cold for the bees.
2. Enough snow to help restore the ground water; we're in a drought.
3. Enough snow for hubby to cross country ski on, regularly.
4. Enough dry days that the county can keep the roads plowed.
5. Enough sunshine to keep me from going crazy on the grey days.

That's my order for winter this year.

 

[R2elk]

You're stealing honey or that hive is being robbed?

I'm the thief.

 

[drstratton]

I'm the thief.

I kind of figured it was you, but had to ask anyway...lol

 

[drstratton]

1. Enough cold to kill off the bad bugs, but not too cold for the bees.
2. Enough snow to help restore the ground water; we're in a drought.
3. Enough snow for hubby to cross country ski on, regularly.
4. Enough dry days that the county can keep the roads plowed.
5. Enough sunshine to keep me from going crazy on the grey days.

That's my order for winter this year.

Not too much to ask for!

 

[Apis mellifera]

Removed the thymol blocks from the Wyoming Italian hive. Just an impression but the hive seems healthier at this time than before the treatment.

It's strange but it does seem to reinvigorate them.

Yes, we removed her. She must have been poorly bred. I'm really bummed about it.

Hard to say, I don't combine hives because it could also be viral. I usually just reduce them down to one hive body and get surprised in the spring when they bounce back.

 

[drstratton]

It's strange but it does seem to reinvigorate them.

Hard to say, I don't combine hives because it could also be viral. I usually just reduce them down to one hive body and usually get surprised in the spring when they bounce back.

I didn't think about something like that. Hopefully that's not the case. Always learning.