This top bar was almost full sooooo I decided to take several bars of honey ---back to where the brood comb ended. There is plenty of time for them to rebuild &replace the honey. For a 1st year hive, I am impressed with the strength & productivity of the top bar hive. Both of my tb's have been very easy to work. I did not get one full bar out at a time because the bees built the comb at a slight diagonal on the bars. I just sliced through with a long knife but not as pretty as it could be. I am still working on the reason for this.

Feasting time for the bees. Again--keep a sharp eye on your space to store honey. I continue to be concerned with the early blooming of our flowers---remember that goldenrod is the major fall nectar source. As a result of this, I am looking to do only one extraction. Probably the 2nd or 3rd week of August. That way all of the late summer and fall can be used for winter stores.

Great evening with lots of interested beekeepers.Spent a couple of hours going through the regular hives,topbar hive and 'talking bees'. The weather turned out good and the bees were cooperating. A couple of pictures below and then go to photo section for more.

Bee Club meeting (or anyone interested) Tuesday at 5:30 PM. See club link for details.
Hot and humid today and tomorrow---water and ventilation for you bees!!

The July honey flow is in full "flower" with more blossoms coming out. Have had reports of swarms in the last two days-it is easy for them to run out of room in a major honey flow. Check often.

Starting in Gwinn, off to Skandia, in to Marquette, back to Skandia, and then home. Jess and I had a busy day with the hives. We saw just about everything--hives bursting with honey, mites in the drone brood, a lack of drone brood,queenless hive(in the process of making a new one), and some nice set ups for hives. I am always impressed with all of the nice people becoming beekeepers.

Contact Jessica if you would still like a visit. She had several calls, but we were already full when they contacted her. If there is enough interest, we will try to do another. 

The Basswood trees are in full bloom. If you have them in your area,check your honey supers often. In a good year,they are able to fill a super in 2-4 days. When walking the road or trails, you may smell the sweet smell of flowering basswood. Even if you don't have basswood around, we are having a major honey flow at this time--check often.

Jessica and I will make visits to those that would like us to take a look at their hives on July 9th. On July 17th we will be at my house to go through both a regular hive and a top bar. See  the bee club link for details.

Make sure your bees have a source of good water during this hot dry weather--I use a bird bath near the hives. You might consider propping your hive tops open to help the bees stay a bit cooler--don't leave them open when the weather cools.

We are in the midst of a major honey flow. Keep an eye on your honey supers adding as necessary. I usually put the new super under the one that is about 2/3 full.