This email was sent out by the National Bee Unit yesterday:
With the on-going poor weather, there is a real risk of bee colonies starving. Please check for stores in the colony and if in any doubt feed your bees. You should feed with either a fondant or a thin syrup.
Further information on feeding bees can be found in Best Practice Guideline No. 7, on the Advisory Leaflets page of BeeBase (click here)
Kind regards,
National Bee Unit.
Today was yet another rainy day. Emma and I went round the apiary topping up the sugar syrup in all the hives. Meanwhile the others huddled around cups of tea and three different kinds of cake. We still don’t know if Myrrh has managed to find a passing sunny moment to mate.
Who will feed the bumbles?
A few pics from Drew’s photos last week which I didn’t post yet:
- Wave your bum in the air like you just don’t care
Can we have some sunshine please?
Adventuresinbeeland's Blog 
Good luck with the bees during the crazy, wet weather. Here in the southern United States, it almost seemed as if we missed winter because it was so warm. Even the news media covered stories that swarming began early this year because of the weather here. I wish all my brother and sister beekeepers better weather and full supers! -Mark
LikeLike
Thanks! I can hear the wind howling outside right now but I’m sure the sun will come eventually. Glad you guys are doing well with the weather, I am obviously living in the wrong place!
LikeLike
Fabulous pictures! And I want to feed my bees–although we’re having a wonderful spring for them, I think. We didn’t have the super warm temps that the Eastern and Southern states had, but it was relatively mild for us.
LikeLike
Thank you. I’m loving all the flower photos you’re getting.
LikeLike
Fabulous photos! Like Mark above, I live in the south and my bees numbers really dwindled over the winter. They kept going out and finding nothing to eat. Now that spring is going proper they have increased to the point of ready for swarming! Hope all goes well with your bees.
~ Lynda
LikeLike
Thanks Lynda. That just shows how quickly things can change, bees are tough little critters so I am optimistic that at least our stronger hive can get through this.
LikeLike
I would have hit “like” but I don’t like starving bees . . . hope it works out.
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
We had a sunny day yesterday, bees flying well, but it’s freezing cold again today. Fingers crossed for Myrrh.
LikeLike
Thanks. Yucky, isn’t it? Can hear the wind howling right now, shaking our windows about! Myrrh must be thinking she’s emerged in the darkest depths of winter.
LikeLike
Second feeding for our crew this weekend, they had sucked the feeders dry! And, Myrrh? I must have missed something, a new queen with a name? Congratulations!
LikeLike
Sounds like yours are appreciating the feed!
Myrrh is our new virgin queen, our bee inspector found her in our hive two weeks ago. Whether she’s had a chance to mate, or is even still alive, we don’t know yet. Fingers very crossed.
LikeLike
Fingers crossed very hard yesterday that Queen Myrrh was meeting some nice drones during a day of beautiful sunshine.
LikeLike
Nice pics. Weather here on the west coast of Canada is dark and wet also. Not stopping the bees from building up and prepping for swarming. Yesterday I found many uncapped queen cells with larvae in my 2nd hive. Opened up the broodnest and put some empty (no foundation) frames to see if that slows or stops the urge.
LikeLike
What is it with bees wanting to swarm in the rain?! Hope you can slow them down a little.
LikeLike
I love the bums in the air! Really beautiful photos of the bees on blue flowers, such startling contrast.
LikeLike
I read your comment out to Drew and he looked happy 🙂
LikeLike
Good, he should! Has he thought about starting a photography blog? There are great templates on WordPress for showcasing photography.
LikeLike
more fabulous pics and I have been feeding my bees since late jan, so i am relieved that i am doing the right thing, they woke up SO early this year.. soon my clover will be out so then i can wean them off.. c
LikeLike
I’m sure you always do the right thing – you have such a magic touch with animals, I’m always impressed by how well treated your farm inhabitants are. Mmm clover honey!
LikeLike
In computer-speak … OMG!!! Those pictures are fantastic! You know, he should self-publish a bee book. Many of us have read every book we can get our hands on and these pictures are MUCH better than any I have seen yet. Your descriptions are wonderful. It made my Sunday morning most enjoyable!
LikeLike
Thanks very much, I passed on your comments 🙂 I think they’re great too, but Drew doesn’t seem to have any plans to publish a book right now. Maybe in a few years, when he’s taken snaps of every bee in our hives from every conceivable angle!
LikeLike