Not much for the bees this month!
The gorse is in flower – again. The main flowering time for Ulex europaeus is March to June but it will also flower sporadically in winter.
Another species of gorse present in Ireland is U.gallii or Dwarf Furze which flowers from July to September. Between the two of them they manage to give the impression that the gorse is always in flower.
Click here for more about gorse
Click the table below for a better view. Continue reading Bee Flowers – October
Sourdough is bread that uses wild, local yeasts as the raising agents. A portion of the dough is kept back when each loaf is baked and is used to raise the next one. A lovely self-contained and sustainable process – but how do you collect those wild local yeasts in the first place?
Look no further than local honey! Continue reading Honey Powered Sourdough Recipe
So – the banana thing. Here’s what was left after a month, a black and shrivelled thing with a strong smell of propolis. But what are the conclusions if any? Continue reading Chalkbrood Banana Results
White eyed drones are victims of a their genes. As we know, drones come from unfertilised eggs and as such they have only one set of chromosomes so all their genetic defects or mutations are expressed and some of them are out there for all to see – like white eyes. Continue reading White Eyed Worker Bee
If, like me, you went to the recent BIBBA conference on the Isle of Man you must also have noticed the horse drawn trams but did you know they too are threatened with extinction?
Personally I was charmed and delighted by these lovely Clydesdales trotting along the promenade on hairy great feet with their ears all pricked and eager. In fact I was so charmed and delighted by them I looked them up on the Blithering Internet when I got home and was incredulous to discover that the Powers-That-Be in Douglas are planning to scrap them!
Click the photo above for a close up, look at that lovely, lovely horse and ask yourself how on earth can that be? Continue reading Isle of Man Horse Power
Here are some flowers for the bees in September
Irish Natives are in green.
Click the table below for a close up then let me know if I’ve missed any: Continue reading Bee Flowers – September
Have you heard the Banana Thing – the one about the banana in the beehive?
While there is ‘anecdotal evidence’ for bananas as a cure for chalkbrood – it is not scientifically proven.
However, it isn’t scientifically disproven either and there’s no smoke without fire. Read on… Continue reading Chalkbrood and the Banana Thing
Learn how to make your own straw bee skep this autumn and never lose another swarm!
One day either November 19 or 20th, 2016 to learn the techniques and make a small demonstration piece.
or
Both days to make a full size skep.
Tools and materials supplied.
Use the contact form below for further information.
Here are some flowers for the bees in August.
Irish Natives are in green.
Click the table below for a close up then let me know if I’ve missed any: Continue reading Bee Flowers August
Here are some flowers for the bees in July.
Irish Natives are in green.
Click the table for a close up then let me know if I’ve missed any: Continue reading Bee Flowers – July
