One of the things that I love about Spring is that everything is always changing, beginning anew. There is no stasis. Even though we have seen these scenes play out before, their return to the spring stage is always a welcomed site. The ruby-throated hummingbirds are back! Just last week, I saw one flitting around … More Hummingbirds and Honey Bees
Yes! The honeybees are alive! (Fist pump!) All three hives! Today, at 46 degrees and partly sunny, I went out for a quick inspection and to place pollen patties on the hives. And I’m glad I did it today because Hive 1 and 2 had gone through their sugar patties and Hive 3 only had … More Les abeilles sont vivantes!
After surviving very difficult temperatures in February, the past week has been offering us glimpses of better days to come — temperatures in the mid 30’s and 40’s with beaming sunshine able to melt the unwanted snow. (On a separate note, cross-country skiing has been put on a temporary, possibly months-long hold). The next 10 … More March 2nd — Signs of Spring?
for the impending winter. Ten days ago, I treated the three hives with oxalic acid — vaporizer style. I watched the forecast for a day that would give me 39-40 degree weather during the day. You should have seen me, as the temp made its way up, waiting to see 39 degrees. I went out … More The honeybees are “tucked in”…
Even though I only have three hives, the title makes it seem like I’ll be hiring some hands, working from sun-up to sun-down, wiping my brow and ending each day with aching muscles. Well, it still is a process, and sometimes tedious, but the reward is worth it — jars full of sweet golden-colored elixir. … More The Honey Harvest
Boy, what a pain! Not only did I have to smell the solution that rids the bees from the supers, I had to smell the Formic Acid that needed to be added to the hives to combat the varroa mite. I knew it would take a while, but being 80 degrees, sunny, and in full … More Pulling supers from hives
My sis, Jessica, on the left, we headed for the hives. … More A new beekeeper?
Our oldest son is here visiting from Brooklyn. Olive accompanied him. A Great-spangled Fritillary on a very tall, thorny thistle. Note the fritillary’s proboscis entering deep into the thistle to get to the nectar. Damselflies down by the pond mating. If you have a romantic heart, it is said that their coupling forms a heart! … More Happenings…
I have two different types of peonies in my gardens. Up around the back of the main house, I have the typical peonies that I remember as a child — massively ruffled in white, pink and magenta. As much as I love these peonies, they are not a great pollinator flower. The ruffles are so … More Peonies and Pollinators
This past weekend saw the buds on the shrub roses bloom brilliantly, revealing their secret within — large amounts of pollen! Even though the wind blew fiercely, and not necessarily fond of wind, it wasn’t enough to keep the honey bees away. And let’s not forget the bumblebee, who will roll around in the heart … More The pollinators are out
A Gardener's Diary 