A very stop/start May meant that several colonies decided to swarm as soon as we got a few warm days. This resulted in my splitting two hives into three nuclei each. One nuc. produced an excellent queen laying wall to wall in a five frame nuc., whilst the other five kept us hanging on. I even gave a frame of eggs from the good nuc. to a sister nucleus.
Then, a week later, all five had laying queens. They were probably too late to benefit from the first cycle of warm weather and had to wait. Now they are all making up for lost time and are zooming out of the hives like little arrows. (They have all been taken or promised) The lime tree with borage and escallonia hedge are favourites but all the herbs are flowering plus the purple buddleia and hebes.
Most members without bees have now got some. The recent members are still gathering equipment together but should get bees soon.
Doug Jones will have nuclei shortly (0151 342 062 or doug@bees-r-us.co.uk )
Doug’s Hogroast in aid of Bees for Uganda went very well and I think he made £2700 to fund the project. The unaccompanied singer, classic guitar player and the musicians were brilliant and everyone had a great time.
Our next meeting on Saturday, 18th July at 2.30 pm, is a joint one with Wirral Beekeepers. It is a fair way to travel but the venue is excellent: Dale Farm, Oldfield Road, Heswall, CH60 6SN, about half a mile from Doug’s house. Our Regional Bee Inspector, Ian Molyneux will go through the bees though I don’t know the topic he’ll talk on. If you are desperate for a lift, I can contact nearby members to see if they will share a car.
The Southport Flower Show, 20-23rd August. Entry in the Honey Section is £7 for up to 10 entries and gives free entry to the show. A great day out. I have a copy of the Amateur Schedule (38 pages including all the flower and veg classes!) and an entry form and can email it to you or send the pages relating to the honey classes.
Be aware that if you catch a swarm in the area from Little Crosby to Lydiate, the bees may have come from a hive, brought in for the oilseed rape, that has been found to have American Foulbrood. Let Ian Molyneux or Doug Jones know if you have (contact info. is in your handbook after the Bee Inspector’s report.) The disease may not develop immediately so the colony should be watched for up to six months. However, it is a colony rather than an apiary disease so don’t panic.
Despite the thunder storms and monsoonal rains/hail, it still looks as though we could have a great season!