Author Archives: Emily Scott

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About Emily Scott

I am a UK beekeeper who has recently moved from London to windswept, wet Cornwall. I first started keeping bees in the Ealing Beekeepers Association’s local apiary in 2008, when I created this blog as a record for myself of my various beekeeping related disasters and - hopefully! - future successes.

What are they up to now?

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Emily Scott

To my despair yesterday was a classic British summers day: dramatic grey clouds and rain coming down harder than a power shower. The week before we’d left five queen cells in Rose’s little hive. Me and Emma wanted to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Queens | 11 Comments

A quintet of queen cells

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Emily Scott

Everything was going so well. Both of our hives seemed fine. Until today. All was fine and dandy in Rosemary’s hive. It took a while to get in there – they had propolised down the entire queen excluder and it … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony management, Queens | 10 Comments

Happy July bees

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Emily Scott

Both hives were doing great today. An audience of learner beekeepers were watching and luckily both lots of bees were on their very best behaviour. They didn’t need smoking and a brave beginner inspecting bare handed received no stings. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

The stuff of nightmares

Posted on June 25, 2011 by Emily Scott

My worst beekeeping nightmare came true within ten minutes of me stepping foot in the apiary today. Two prospective beekeepers had arrived and Andy asked me if I could show them round the apiary quickly before they put their beesuits … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 18 Comments

What’s flowering now: late June

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Emily Scott

After a week of rain and cloud the weather seems to be on a turn for the better, just as the weekend arrives. The bees will be pleased; the rain will have helped flowers produce nectar and the sunny weather … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Moving home again

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Emily Scott

A quiet night in watching films with my other half has been cut short by his getting a call from work about temperature alerts in their data centre (he’s an IT bod). He’s cycled off at top speed, saying something … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony management | Tagged | 11 Comments

What’s flowering now: late May

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Emily Scott

Yesterday I took a walk about in the park near my house and managed to get some surprisingly focused (for me) shots of bees on flowers. I used the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s Bumblebee identification page and Help Save Bees’ Bumblebee Family … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Return of a queen

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Emily Scott

Yesterday was a overcast, cool day here in London. The bees were still flying regardless, bringing back large amounts of a grey coloured pollen. It looks like velvety mole skin. Any ideas about what it might be? I’m wondering about … Continue reading →

Posted in Queens | Tagged | 7 Comments

Bee Health Day 2: varroa control workshop

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Emily Scott

This is a follow up post to this one on the Bee Health Day I went to held at Roots & Shoots (a wildlife garden and base for the London Beekeepers’ Association), which is an annual event run by our government bee inspectors. Below are … Continue reading →

Posted in Disease prevention | Tagged | 6 Comments

Our flighty queen

Posted on May 21, 2011 by Emily Scott

Today has been rapturously lovely and sunny. When I arrived at the apiary there were already lots of eager beginner beekeepers being shown a few hives by Andy and Pat. Soon the apiary got busier and busier until it felt … Continue reading →

Posted in Queens | Tagged | 5 Comments