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Garden Gate:  Bees are back  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 06 2013 : 11:39:16 AM
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This is not a good picture. But there is a honey bee on the left tall flower.
The bees are here!!! I have a lot of dandelion and violets and old collards that are flowering right now. And the bees are busy! I saw several honey bees and a bumble bee. Plus lots of wasps. As long as they leave the others alone and me, I don't mind them. But I am SO happy to see honey bees. But the bumble bees are even better to have around for pollinating. Honey bees only do so much. But bumble bees do a bit more. So it's good to have a variety of bees around to do specific jobs for you.
This is the "wild" garden. I'm going to throw wildflower seeds out there. And there are 7 blueberry bushes in bloom right now too.
Anyone else seeing bees yet? I just love bees.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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Edited by - kristin sherrill on Apr 10 2013 07:16:03 AM |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2013 : 04:33:04 AM
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My bees were out last week, for the first time. Our weather has been pretty cold yet. It was good to see that they had over wintered. Hoping I can split the hive this year. The bees are just wonderful to watch. I like seeing them bring in pollen on their legs. And the different colors of pollen is neat too. have fun
Michele |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2013 : 06:24:45 AM
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Michele, I can sit and watch bees for hours. Well, really, while picking beans or doing yard work. I really haven't seen bees here in a few years. It's scary. But several years ago, I had a lot of rows of corn next to the beans. And while picking beans, I could hear the bees working the corn tassels. Sounded like New York City, it was so loud. I think I'm going to plant my smaller garden in corn just for the bees. I'm getting a hive sometime this week!
I'm glad your bees made it through the winter and that you are having to split the hive! I have read where lots of hives up North didn't make it. Like in Vermont and NY and Maine. So sad. But they had such a crazy winter there. We had a very mild winter but OH SO WET.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2013 : 08:02:23 AM
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Oh Kris, I love bumble bees! My first bees will show up by the end of the month when my plums are in blossom. I love standing under the trees and listening to the rising and falling buzz of the busy little guys. They are all sweet and gentle and I've never once been stung.
Beautiful bee shot! Thanks for the spring time smile =}
You must do the thing you think you cannot do
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Annika
Farmgirl & Sister #13
http://thegimpyfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
http://pinterest.com/annikaloveshats/
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2013 : 09:38:29 AM
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Annika, I have never been stung either. I am not afraid of bees at all. I am fascinated by them.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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Emily Anna
True Blue Farmgirl
863 Posts
Emily
Fort Atkinson
WI
USA
863 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2013 : 10:43:26 AM
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I'm almost ashamed to say this, but I don't think I really knew what a honey bee looked like until last summer when I saw them in my dad's garden. They sure are cute lil guys!
Emily |
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Cindy Lou
True Blue Farmgirl
2325 Posts
Susan
Lonsdale
MN
USA
2325 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2013 : 12:49:24 PM
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I hope that whatever is decimating the bee population gets figured out. We will be in big trouble for food production otherwise. Do you have Mason bees around there? We put out a board with holes drilled in it last year. They are supposed to wall up the holes with mud to let the babies develop in safety. But we had so little rain that they didn't make much use of it.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2013 : 1:46:28 PM
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I went to a natural pollinator class a few weeks ago and the guy had a Mason bee (house?)not really sure what it's called. But he had 2 2x4's screwed into a piece of real thin wood. The 2x4's had small holes drilled 3 to a row all down the wood, about the size of a pencil. He then took small squares of parchment paper and rolled them on a pencil and stuck them inside the holes. The Mason bees seem to like this set up. I am going to try to make some because these are some bees you want to have around. And the Bumble bees too. Honey bees don't really do as much as these other bees do. And I had no idea before going to this class, that there are specialist and generalist bees. Specialist bees have one particular job they do. Like a squash bee only pollinates anything in the squash family. Then there are Blueberry bees that just do blueberries. Had no idea. And that honey bees can't get nectar out of honeysuckles but the Bumble bee will drill a hole at the base of the honeysuckle then the honey bee can get to the nectar. I'm telling you, thses insects are just amazing creatures. And there is so much more we don't even know.
Emily, you are not alone! I get confused myself. Seems there are some bees that look alike that are so different. I saw a black bee out in the flowers awhile ago that I don't know what it is. I'll have to look up bees now. And there is a small bee that looks just like a honey bee, but is so little.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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Emily Anna
True Blue Farmgirl
863 Posts
Emily
Fort Atkinson
WI
USA
863 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2013 : 4:13:52 PM
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Kristin,
The class you took sounds really interesting and informative! I've always liked bees, I understand what an important role they play, and I've always went out of my way to to not harm them. I guess I really don't know that much about them though. Now you've got me really intriged. You're right Kristin, they are amazing creatures and so much fun to watch in the garden! Susan, It is really scary what is happening to the bee population!!
Emily |
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Bonnie Ellis
True Blue Farmgirl
2474 Posts
Bonnie
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA
2474 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2013 : 7:20:49 PM
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I'm so glad you have honeybees. They are essential to polinating. Your weather must be fabulous. We're supposed to get 6" of snow this week. I'll have to wait for my honeybees.
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2013 : 7:39:59 PM
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Oh Bonnie, sounds like Old Man Winter wants to hang on up there. We are in the 70's and 80's here this week. But Thursday we could be in for some nasty storms. Everyone is on edge around here because 2 years in a row we had tornadoes in April here and they were horrible. Still see the effects from 2 years ago.
Stay warm up there!
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2013 : 07:17:57 AM
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I'm going up tomorrow night with some friends to get our hives!!!! So exciting! I guess I better get out back and put the fence up in the corner for them. I am wondering now, how I am going to get that hive way out there to where I want it to go. By myself. Through 2 gates, lots of mud and probably rain, and a hill.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2013 : 1:23:19 PM
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Kristin we have several mason bee houses. You can buy them reasonable from gardens supply. They are made from bamboo pieces cut and glued together. They are so fun and fascinating to watch. My son has taken video of them and put them on utube.We just love them and each year their population has grown.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
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wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2013 : 1:25:05 PM
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Kristin take the hive out on a wagon or dolley. Don't put your bees in until you have everything set up and ready to go. Moving the hive once they are in there is not that easy and could really upset them.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2013 : 4:30:52 PM
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Kris, we have bees here. They are pollinating all over the yard and my flowers.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2013 : 6:01:05 PM
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Linda, this is an already established hive. Full of bees already. My friend came over today and we decided to put the hive up front in the sheep yard in the corner by the big maple tree. It'll be much easier to get them there than way up in the back. And this way, I can keep an eye on them better. And we are in for the same weather as you. Some severe storms. So we may have to wait a few more days to get the bees. So we can get his truck right up to where we will put the hive. Much easier.
Marly, there are bees all over the place here. The carpenter bees are buzzing all over the house. And those horrid orange wasps are up in the eaves. I hate them. And of course the honey bees. I wonder now if there is a wild hive nearby. There are several hives about 5 miles South of me. I wonder if they belong there?
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2013 : 7:25:39 PM
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Kristin you need to be careful where you put them. A friend of mine put them in her goat lot and the goats got near the hive and they stung her goat so bad it killed the goat. She took the goat to the vet but there was to many stings.
We use to have ours inside the goat pasture and our goats got close to the hives and they were stung many times but not enough to hurt them.Its not that the bees are being mean they just smell the carbon dioxide from the animal and it sets them off as they view them as a threat. You may already know this but just wanted to make sure and to be safe. Good luck with your hives. I had no idea you were getting one already established. You will probably get honey this year which will be super cool.Take care.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2013 : 08:54:25 AM
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Linda, the hive will be in the far corner of the sheep yard. I'm going to put a fence around it. The sheep aren't in this yard much now. Just at night. And sheep are so calm most of the time. Plus, they are so darn wooly right now, a bee couldn't get through to sting them. I have got to get these poor sheep sheared SOON. It's in the 80's now and they are panting, poor things.
If we get the storms they are calling for, I don't think we'll go tonight.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2013 : 09:23:23 AM
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That should be fine.
We were in the 80's the past few days and I was so hot trying to work outside. Even the goats were panting.We were suppose to get storms last night but it past us. They are calling for some today. Its rained a little bit but not even enough to knock the pollen and dust down. We shall see if we get any this afternoon.
Our bees have been out collecting pollen like crazy. They have been collecting from this plant that covers the pastures every spring I think its called purple dead nettle. The pollen on their back legs is like a flurescent red. Its even on the tops of their heads.Its the brightest pollen I have ever seen.
Hope the weather cooperates soon so you can get your wonderful bees.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2013 : 09:47:07 AM
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This is a better shot of the "wild" garden with the blueberry bushes.
I am not mowing any dandelions or clover or henbit. I want the bees to be happy and have all they want.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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Edited by - kristin sherrill on Apr 11 2013 09:47:58 AM |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2013 : 4:12:45 PM
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Kris, yes! we have those carpenter bees, also! Some of them are giants!!! LOL. My outside cats swat at them.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2013 : 5:10:00 PM
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No bees today. The time we were going to get them was right in the middle of some bad weather. So have to wait til tomorrow now.
Marly, I remember some neighbor kids hitting them with baseball bats. They are huge.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2013 : 8:30:11 PM
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And- they chew right through the wood! Of course, they've never come after me like the wasp do! LOL
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 13 2013 : 7:39:37 PM
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I got my hive late last night. I love them already. They are amazing. I went to another bee workshop today and learned SO much more. So far so good. And I only got stung once last night. One went up my pant leg and stung me behind my right knee. Didn't even hurt. It was kind of crazy, with lots of people there to get their hives too. Thank goodness, we got there first. It took 5 1/2 hours, from start to a hive in my yard.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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Edited by - kristin sherrill on Apr 13 2013 7:40:47 PM |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4179 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4179 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2013 : 04:18:00 AM
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Congratulations on the new hive. You will love the whole experience. I hope they do well for you. Kris either tie your pants legs or wear tall boots. That will keep the bees out. Also if you do get stung, try to remove the stinger right away. You can chew up some plantain and apply to sting. If you are not wearing gloves, remember to take any rings off before getting into the hive. I have been stung a few times on the hands, and I think it hurts! Now I always wear gloves. Keep reading about them too.
Michele |
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wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2013 : 10:25:26 AM
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Kris so glad you got your bees!!!I bet you are so excited.
One of the things that would make it easier on your bees and we have them on ours is a board to land on in front of the entrance to the hive. Its makes it easier for their comings and goings. They kinda use it like a landing strip at an airport.I was not sure by the picture if you had one or not. Anyway congrats on your new bees. Take care and enjoy.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm
Nubian Dairy Goats |
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Garden Gate: Bees are back |
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Bees are back
