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Well! It is a good job that the bees crammed in all that pollen and nectar as the torrential rain of the last week has kept them inside. The queen that I have from Ray Dowsons Queen Rearing Day emerged on Friday, and I hope the weather clears up in the next week for her to fly! Our lime tree has also just really opened its flowers and it does give a superb honey if the bees can collect it. (By the way the laurels have extra floral nectaries not honeydew, as I should know having just done the Module containing it!) Thyme, privet and fuchsia are in full flower with agrimony, phacelia, ground elder and many wild flowers. The Saturday meeting at John McCanns apiary at CHET took place in sunshine with our Regional Bee Inspector, Ian Molyneux, first briefly explaining the different ways of controlling varroa for the benefit of newcomers, and then going through six hives, each with a different story to tell and with John giving a commentary on past events and what he will do next with each one. We covered the value of running a virgin queen in the entrance, a worker in a queen cell, a swarm taking over an old hive and the ways of moving it on to clean comb, honey getting, a failing queen and colony. Both beekeepers and visitors had a lot to take in. We then retired to one of the CHET rooms for tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes. It was a lively and interesting afternoon and many thanks go to Ian, John, Doug Jones for aiding discussion, Lil and Ann for producing tea as we finished and for the raffle, which Arthur (luck of the devil) won! Our next meeting is a social BBQ at the home of Mr Derek Eaton on Saturday, 14th July, at 2.30pm (map enclosed). The idea is to relax without the bees, provide steak burgers, bangers and chicken, with baked potatoes, veg. kebabs, salad, together with a glass of wine or juice. We would ask for a £2 contribution to costs? If you have a great honey dessert, bring a bit along. Would you let me know that you are coming (Phone no. above or complete the slip below and return to me by 7th July) so that Derek will have some idea of the numbers to cater for and what else to provide. Don Headey (0151 722 4311) has asked me to say he has about eight nuclei for sale. The Guardian newspaper ran an article (27.6.07) on CCD: Pennsylvanias state apiarist says they found blackened and swollen organs, scarring on the digestive tract, kidneys swollen and scarred. Even the sting had a fungal or yeast infection. Many possibilities are floating around. My own very personal hobby horse is that bees have a weaker immune system to mosquito & fruit fly, but have propolis as an anti-biotic. How many beekeepers see propolis as a nuisance to be bred out of their bees? I may well be wrong, but I think beekeepers should be thinking hard about management and why things are done. The Royal Lancs Agricultural Show is on from the 20th -22nd July at Ribchester and the Southport Flower Show is 16-19th August, each with a honey section and show. If you are coming to the BBQ, please let me know so we can cater for you: Best wishes Sheila Myron
I/We would like to come to the Barbeque on Saturday, 14th July, at 2.30 pm. (Please print names)-
(1) . (2)
Signed .. (or phone 01744 21614) |
