More May Antics and Adventures...

 

A Small Yard in Town

Swarm Catchin

Checker boarding new undrawn with drawn 
for adding supers

Busy May as Well!

 Things have been hoping here!  I have several yards, two trailers and some new locations to work with.  

The good news is the Bees are building now, feeding some amazing blooms and pollen now.

This yard is along the Palouse River - just South West of Spokane.  Amazing bloom! 

New Trailer with 34 colonies on board

Speaking of bloom - check this out!

Apple Blossom

 

One of the yards looking down the Colville Valley

Goofy Selfie

A big drop of syrup has some 'customers'

Another Great Yard Up North

Crazy Busy April 2021!

 OK... this month has been a whirl wind!  Two trips to California for my bees and to haul packages! 

The trip begins with the long drive south and across the Inland Northwest.  It is quite an Odyssey with many interesting re-fueling stops along the way.  My first stop on the way done is at Biggs Junction on Highway 97 going through the middle of Oregon.  I start early, so this image is facing west with the beautiful sunrise shinning on the Gorge Walls along the Columbia.  I will pass by the John Day Dam - a true marvel of American Ingenuity and Engineering.  It would be great to do 'big things' again in this country like this!

... more later on.

 

Some thoughts on my survivor stock

I keep pretty good records, or at least I try to every year! 

I'm seeing a pattern that you may be experiencing too.  The hives that spent some time with the sunflower bloom, in late summer, seem to over winter better and have no noticeable nosema infection.  This is  a type of bee diarrhea that is lethal for bees trying to rebound after winter. 

Check out Ian Stepler - as he talks about Sunflower and the beneficial effects to 'bee gut health'.  This guy is fantastic!  Great advice and some great ideas and experience.

You might want to consider planting some sunflowers in your garden next year for sure!

Sunflowers and Bee Gut Health

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uQKuX2T1X4

The Almond Bloom is INCREDIBLE!

My 'orchard buddy' sent this to me.  My Bees are working this bloom now.  Nice and warm - in the low 70's and sunny!

Beautiful Bloom!

Tool Kit Box for The Yards...

 "Just where did my hive tool go?"

Have you ever wondered this?  I DO all the TIME!  

New Tool kit with New Smoker!

Here was my response.  I built a tool kit box.  

Here is a short video that shows you more about it!

I'm having a blast making cool tools to make life in the Yards easier!

How we build frames

We have been busy this winter making deep, medium and shallow frames   These shallows will be used for making cut comb frames.  We ALWAYS glue our frames before 'shooting them'

Attaching the bottom board on the frame

These setup fast

This is a little trick that I learned many years ago.  Shoot in a 'side staple' on the edge like this to make the frame more robust and less likely to come apart later.

Side shot

Building up our inventory Spring!