Bees in the Antipodes: June 2009

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Frosty Morning . . .

Winter has certainly arrived with her frosty breath , -4 degrees C, frozen grass, brilliant blue sky with the last of the autumn colour slowly falling to the ground to end the yearly cycle once again - something I alway marvel at and never tire of . .

A fantastic frosty morning in the Waikato this week,a Gingko

tree in the Hamilton Gardens looking spectacular with it`s pillow of fallen leaves which the gardeners leave as long as possible, mowing a circle around the tree !

How lucky we are to live in this energising place . . .

Bees on board at last !!

I set my first hive, Miro, up at the back of my friends house at the beginning of Oct 2006. Looking fantastic with the swarm my beekeeper friend gave me, in the brand new brood box and spare on top, I am one proud beekeeper at last. One month later, they swarmed !!! Not enough room was diagnosed and a smaller half-depth box put on . Luckily the little darlings had only swarmed over the fence into the grapefruit tree. Captured and I have 2 hives - both doing very well, so well in fact that I have put a 3/4 box on both hives over the last 2 weeks. At last the necter flow is happening - lots of pollen also being brought into both Miro and Matai.