🐝💗Our Backyard Beekeeping Journey!💗🐝

[drstratton]

@drstratton, you had an early frost, and we haven't had one yet. It doesn't look like there's one in the near future, either. I'm rather surprised.

I'd like something to kill off the dang bugs. The bees will be safe in their houses, the rest of the bugs can DIE!!!

I sure wasn't expecting it. I'm hoping to continue feeding syrup until the end of the month.

Wanted to inspect on Thursday, but we'll be back in town again. 3 days in a row... yuck.

 

[Sally PB]

Yesterday, we fed the bees, Newbees' hive first. I told hubby that they were all around me when I fed them last time, and the Charlatans were more like, "oh, it's the big white thing again."

Same thing. The Newbees were much more ... excited? upset? pissy? about us being there.

The feeders in the two hives are totally different. The Newbees have a frame feeder in a box of empty frames. I added the other frame feeder, as I wanted to give them more.

The Charlatans have box style feeder with float boards in it. I like this better for this time of year. I'm going to order another one. The bees were calmer, it holds a lot more syrup, and is easier to fill.

Maybe the box style was why the bees were calmer?

 

[drstratton]

Yesterday, we fed the bees, Newbees' hive first. I told hubby that they were all around me when I fed them last time, and the Charlatans were more like, "oh, it's the big white thing again."

Same thing. The Newbees were much more ... excited? upset? pissy? about us being there.

The feeders in the two hives are totally different. The Newbees have a frame feeder in a box of empty frames. I added the other frame feeder, as I wanted to give them more.

The Charlatans have box style feeder with float boards in it. I like this better for this time of year. I'm going to order another one. The bees were calmer, it holds a lot more syrup, and is easier to fill.

Maybe the box style was why the bees were calmer?

I would imagine they are happier with a large food supply.

 

[Sally PB]

I was wondering also if it was due to the reaction of basically "opening" the hive. With the frame feeders, you take off the cover, and everything is open to the sky. With the box feeder, it's like there is another cover and you're not disturbing them as much.

Thoughts?

 

[drstratton]

I was wondering also if it was due to the reaction of basically "opening" the hive. With the frame feeders, you take off the cover, and everything is open to the sky. With the box feeder, it's like there is another cover and you're not disturbing them as much.

Thoughts?

I definitely think that helps. Our bees are calm when we feed them. We use jars, so we don't have to get into the hives. They hardly know we're there.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Yesterday, we fed the bees, Newbees' hive first. I told hubby that they were all around me when I fed them last time, and the Charlatans were more like, "oh, it's the big white thing again."

Same thing. The Newbees were much more ... excited? upset? pissy? about us being there.

The feeders in the two hives are totally different. The Newbees have a frame feeder in a box of empty frames. I added the other frame feeder, as I wanted to give them more.

The Charlatans have box style feeder with float boards in it. I like this better for this time of year. I'm going to order another one. The bees were calmer, it holds a lot more syrup, and is easier to fill.

Maybe the box style was why the bees were calmer?

Ours are slowing down, only nine qrts out of the usual 12. Doing up 2 more gallons this afternoon, just in case. Having the feed inside the medium on top of the feed board I don't wear any gear, today my black sweat shirt, like a bear, and no interest in me at all.

 

[cavemanrich]

I don't wear any gear, today my black sweat shirt, like a bear, and no interest in me at all.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

View attachment 4233213

More lazy than lucky, plus they're honeybees not those damn Yellow Jackets. They just keep wackin' and hurt to.

 

[drstratton]

Today was a beautiful day, daytime temps are still in the 60's for the next 10 days, then dropping into the 50's.

Finally saw a honeybee on the sagebrush. It's actually just starting to open up.
Where's Waldo? Lol

Full shot of the sagebrush.

Also found a bunch of Oleander aphids on my butterfly weed. I cleaned them off by hand. These are another invasive species.

Bees and blooms! They are still bringing in lots of pollen and I'm sure some nectar, but it's definitely slowing down.