| Author |
Garden Gate:  honey bees  |
|
|
pamcook
True Blue Farmgirl
228 Posts
Pam
Chapel Hill
NC
USA
228 Posts |
 Posted - May 25 2009 : 5:36:44 PM
|
We've been avoiding cutting the back lawn because we have a nice crop of clover and I keep hoping to see some honey bees. Over the past few days, I have regularly seen one lone honey bee. Today I saw 2 bumble bees and just one honey bee. It makes me so sad to see just the one honey bee. I wonder why he's alone? I wonder if he's feral or from a hive. I keep hoping to see more.
www.ikat.org
www.longaberger.com/pamcook |
|
|
Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 8:41:43 PM
|
they may be scouting things out and reporting back to the hive...wait a few more days and you may see more flitting around. I would like to suggest that you try maybe tilling up an area of your yard and removing all weeds and sowing wild flowers native to your area. I have done that in my yard and have seen a few bee visitors, both honey bees and native bees as well as butterflies.And the added bonus is I wind up with lovely flowers to bring inside and put in a vase to cheer things up a bit.
~I Dream of a Better World..where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned!~
blogs:http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and http://thevictorygardener.blogspot.com
magazine: www.stliving.net
etsy shops: http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com
and http://myvictorygarden.etsy.com |
Edited by - Tina Michelle on May 25 2009 10:38:50 PM |
 |
|
|
JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 04:30:20 AM
|
I am concerned about honey bees as well. Our apple trees are all in full bloom and not one honey bee is around. We did see 2 bumble bees and a couple of humming birds yesterday and still no honey bees. Our weather has been on the chilly side and breezy, not sure if that has anything to do with it or not. Last night we dropped to 28 so it is taking time to warm up again today. ( rain is in the forecast for the next 3 days, bees don't fly in the rain)
Hoping to see some honey bees soon. . . Tina, I am starting a wild flower garden, which we will be increasing it's size this fall. Since I wish to have my very own bees someday.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
|
|
|
City Chick
True Blue Farmgirl
1402 Posts
Deb
Chattanooga
TN
USA
1402 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 04:41:31 AM
|
I had 1 lonely honey bee yesterday too. It was working on my raspberry bushes along with 2 little bumble bee's. I'm hoping the honey bee was a scout and that more will be back. I have quite a few flowers in bloom right now.
http://www.xanga.com/My_Pondering_Place |
|
|
|
pamcook
True Blue Farmgirl
228 Posts
Pam
Chapel Hill
NC
USA
228 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2009 : 08:05:23 AM
|
I keep hoping to see more. I planted bee balm in my perennial bed this year - it isn't blooming yet. So far this year, I've had lily of the valley, a pear tree, irises, honeysuckle and now daylilies blooming in the yard. I hope the huge, huge patches of clover keeps them interested. I should go check the blackberries. Maybe that's where they are? There's a bee-keeper who comes to the state farmer's market. He's checking around to see if anyone wants to put a hive in our back yard.
www.ikat.org
www.longaberger.com/pamcook |
|
|
|
CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2009 : 08:16:36 AM
|
Oh, ya'll, I'm distressed about the honey bees, too. There was one little bee I saw a couple of times in my garden, flitting around my blooming tomatoes. I didn't worry too much because my jasmine hadn't bloomed yet and when it does, it's usually filled with them. But it's been blooming for a couple of weeks now and I haven't seen a single one. But then again, it's been crazy raining here! We've had rain every day for the month of May at one place or another here in Alabama. I really, really need to convince the hubs to let me have a hive of my own!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
|
|
|
rosebee67
Farmgirl in Training
11 Posts
melissa
louisburg
nc
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 3:56:02 PM
|
| i took up beekeeping last year...it is so interesting and not as hard as i thout it would bee! i got my certified beekers certificate in the mail today. i cant wait to get out there next week and open the hives for inspection. |
|
|
|
rosebee67
Farmgirl in Training
11 Posts
melissa
louisburg
nc
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 3:58:02 PM
|
Pam,
you are in chapel hill....contact jack tapp at busy bees...he is in chapel hill also and is our local supplier...he can help you with getting set up. |
|
|
|
Betty J.
True Blue Farmgirl
1403 Posts
Betty
Pasco
WA
USA
1403 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2009 : 4:19:15 PM
|
I am also distressed at the lack of honeybees. Last time I was out around my raspberries (looking very sick this year) that were blooming, they were alive with honeybees. I am so thrilled to see them. Have no idea where they come from, but they are welcome guests.
Betty in Pasco |
|
|
|
JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
Posted - Jun 03 2009 : 03:35:04 AM
|
They had a segment on NH Chronicle the other night, said that honey bees will travel up to 2 miles from their hives for food. Thought that was interesting. Also, while the crew was there filming the story, one of the hives swarmed and they showed that as well. . . cool!
So much to know about bees, I was shocked to hear that most of the available honey ( in large stores) came from over seas. The most distressing thing I heard was, as the bees collect the pollen it has pesticides in it/on it, as they build their honeycombs it kills the bees. So when the bees discover that their hive has a problem, they simply leave. ( smart bees! )
I am glad we do not use any pesticides on our land, only "on" our house for the cluster flies ( and believe me, I hate that as well, however the infestation of the flies is 1000 times worse!) We are slowly adding tons of flowering trees, shrubs, flowers and vines for the local honey bees. Hoping in the near future to have a hive of my very own.
Joanna #566
JojoNH
http://www.CountryCents.com
http://CountryCents.Blogspot.com
http://Twitter.com/Eastwooddesigns |
|
|
|
asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Jun 03 2009 : 06:48:05 AM
|
Joanna -
Interesting about the pesticides. Probably why the swarms always land in our yard and build in the neighbors hedge between us(on our side). We use no pesticides or insectides, we try to stay totally organic. The bees love our yard. I have noticed over the years there seem to be a few less bees, but I keep planting things to attract them. Yesterday my French Lavender was covered in honey and bumble bees, same with the heirloom bleeding hearts I have.
Anne in Portland, OR
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them" Eyeore from Winnie the Pooh
|
|
|
|
jo Thompson
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Jo
the mountainside of the Chugach
in Alaska
USA
603 Posts |
Posted - Jun 05 2009 : 05:57:18 AM
|
I have two bee hives this year! I went to beekeeping meetings with the Alaska Beekeeper's Association winter and early spring. It is a wonderful collection of people who love bees. I ordered my woodenware early and spent 6 weeks, assembling, painting and stocking in my foundation onto the frames.
I "hived" my bees the middle of April on a snowy day, they settled right in and I've been feeding sugar water until the nectar flow begins to peak. Fireweed is plentiful around my house so they should be in good shape. It's pretty exciting to pull out frame after frame of bees when you are inspecting to see if your queen is laying well.
Get bee hives and your garden will be plentiful. The expense is around 400. the first year for one hive and all your "stuff". It's a one time investment and then you're set. Many of you might be able to get second hand equipment in the lower 48. It's probably too late right now, although swarms are nice to collect if you're really excited about getting bees!
"life is drab without a lab"
http://web.mac.com/thomja/ |
|
|
|
katie-ell
True Blue Farmgirl
1818 Posts
Katie
Illinois
1818 Posts |
Posted - Jun 06 2009 : 05:03:26 AM
|
Our neighbor set up a hive in our garden this spring -- photos on my blog! Because he has several hives, we've always seen lots of honeybees in our garden, but now they are 'our' bees and we're so excited to have them here, close up. Fascinating.
www.youaretoocreative.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
JojoNH
True Blue Farmgirl
1984 Posts
Joanna
Dunbarton
New Hampshire
USA
1984 Posts |
|
|
pamcook
True Blue Farmgirl
228 Posts
Pam
Chapel Hill
NC
USA
228 Posts |
|
| |
Garden Gate: honey bees |
|
honey bees
You are so lucky