* Jim Hyer and I spent Saturday morning at the MSU Chatham Research Farm. It was a great field day organized by the farm staff and attended by a number of the consulting staff from the MSU campus. The North Farm has been revived after a 30 year period of inactivity. It will be a teaching farm with students living on site--all organic. I think bees are in their near future--will keep you posted.
*** Had and captured several swarms this year (July 3-July 16). It seems they all landed high in trees. I have three trees that I cut down to get them on the ground. I hope that is it as I am quickly losing shade by the hives My hives had plenty of room but the weather in late June and early July kept them in a great deal making them feel more crowded than they actually were. They have been out and very busy the past week - maybe we can make up for some lost time.
**** Spotted knapweed starting to bloom and white sweet clover (where it's not being cut down along the roads) is prolific. Basswood trees in this area and near Escanaba did not produce well this year. It looked like they had some kind of bug problem. I have been trying to keep up with bloom dates in the wild flower gallery but am a bit behind.
***** David Payant has been busy with some queen breeding. His learning curve has been steep and he should have a few queens ready soon.
****** The Hive House continues to gather its "voice" as the nucs have taken off. It has been amazing to watch the changes that have taken place since putting the 1st bees in May 26th. Inside the Hive House now, is a low deep hum and the smell is more hive like and less of fresh wood. It will continue to change as the season progresses. If you haven't checked out the video, go to the Hive House page.
******* Saturday afternoon brought a great bunch of 4-H young people and their advisers for a bee yard visit. Went through couple of hives, all had fingers sticky with honey, and visited the Hive House. I'll let the pictures do the talking on this one.
*** Had and captured several swarms this year (July 3-July 16). It seems they all landed high in trees. I have three trees that I cut down to get them on the ground. I hope that is it as I am quickly losing shade by the hives My hives had plenty of room but the weather in late June and early July kept them in a great deal making them feel more crowded than they actually were. They have been out and very busy the past week - maybe we can make up for some lost time.
**** Spotted knapweed starting to bloom and white sweet clover (where it's not being cut down along the roads) is prolific. Basswood trees in this area and near Escanaba did not produce well this year. It looked like they had some kind of bug problem. I have been trying to keep up with bloom dates in the wild flower gallery but am a bit behind.
***** David Payant has been busy with some queen breeding. His learning curve has been steep and he should have a few queens ready soon.
****** The Hive House continues to gather its "voice" as the nucs have taken off. It has been amazing to watch the changes that have taken place since putting the 1st bees in May 26th. Inside the Hive House now, is a low deep hum and the smell is more hive like and less of fresh wood. It will continue to change as the season progresses. If you haven't checked out the video, go to the Hive House page.
******* Saturday afternoon brought a great bunch of 4-H young people and their advisers for a bee yard visit. Went through couple of hives, all had fingers sticky with honey, and visited the Hive House. I'll let the pictures do the talking on this one.
Parts of the hive
The Smoker
Help from one of the dads
Calming them down
Fingers are for honey
A top bar hive frame of mostly drones
In the HIve House
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