Recent Posts

31

Bee News / A harsh article regarding honey bees

« Last post by Bakersdozen on April 08, 2025, 08:57:40 pm »

https://xerces.org/blog/want-to-save-bees-focus-on-habitat-not-honey-bees

This article by the Xerces Society says not to worry about the honey bees because they are endangering native bee populations.  Beekeepers can over populate an area with colonies which can lead to lack of forage for native bees. I agree to a point, but I always regard honey bees as the poster child.  If the honey bee colonies weren't dying at an all time high no one would notice the bumblebees. I do agree with the encouragement regarding planting forage.  When one species benefits, they all do.

32

Beekeeping 101 / Re: Open Apiary

« Last post by Bakersdozen on April 08, 2025, 12:06:17 pm »

The owner explained that they were bred for growing in greenhouses. I have to say that the lower parts of the tomatoes were loaded with beautiful green tomatoes with blooms at the top. They were indeterminate. I wish I would have asked how long the plants would keep producing in that set up.  In the front row of the tomatoes you can see how the tomatoes set.


The owner also told us that he had wanted bumblebees for pollination for several years. The cost was too expensive. He spoke to the head of the Entomology Dept. at the University of Kansas who told him to order seconds. You have to ask for them. He got to witness the queen's mating flight one time and said it was fascinating. She flew back and forth from one end of the greenhouse to the other. Drones would mate and drop.

33

Beekeeping 101 / Re: Open Apiary

« Last post by The15thMember on April 07, 2025, 05:07:11 pm »

Sounds like a great learning resource for your bee club.  What's so special about the Swedish tomatoes?

34

Beekeeping 101 / Open Apiary

« Last post by Bakersdozen on April 07, 2025, 11:23:16 am »

Our local bee club has an open apiary where mentors work with beginners to learn beekeeping hands on. The apiary is located on private property situated in an agricultural area of prime bottom land. The landowners have established a cut flower business and greenhouses.  One greenhouse close to the hives is dedicated to growing hot house tomatoes and seedlings. We were greeted by the owner who let us come in and watch the bumble bees pollinating the tomatoes. He explained that the seed for his hot house tomatoes comes from Sweden and costs $1.00 per seed. A  country market is on sight to sell flowers, bedding plants, eggs, tomatoes, etc. but they also sell at the local farmer's market too.
 
This past weekend was the first open apiary of the season. I helped Sunday afternoon. We had a great group of 18 present.
There was plenty for them to see.  Besides seeing eggs, larvae, and the queen, marking the queen, we found a drone laying colony, installed a package of bees, requeened 2 colonies, demonstrated feeders, showed colonies that were prime for swarming (8 frames or more of brood present), and saw what we think were the effects of agricultural spraying. In previous inspections done by the organizers, it was suspected that every colony had European foulbrood. Our inspections yesterday showed some signs or dead, off color larvae slumped down in some cells. Other sections on the same frame had healthy larvae. Given the location, we decided it was the effects of agricultural spraying and that the colonies would be fine.

35

Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Re: Swarm season is here for this area.

« Last post by iddee on April 05, 2025, 03:50:13 am »

Caught 2 more yesterday. Third one was too high in a cedar tree.

36

Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Re: Swarm season is here for this area.

« Last post by The15thMember on April 03, 2025, 06:52:39 pm »

37

Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Re: Swarm season is here for this area.

« Last post by iddee on April 03, 2025, 06:36:59 pm »

Two calls today. Caught one, but let the lady keep her 4 bees at the other. LOL.

38

Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Re: Swarm season is here for this area.

« Last post by neillsayers on April 03, 2025, 05:37:40 pm »

Thanks for the reminder!

39

Swarms, Cut Outs, Trap Outs and Bee Trees / Swarm season is here for this area.

« Last post by iddee on April 03, 2025, 02:18:02 pm »

One on March 30, One on Mar. 31. two on Apr. 2. Set 4 swarm traps today, March 3.
It's impossible for a beekeeper to retire.

40

Gardening / Re: Using honey as a rooting agent for plant cuttings

« Last post by neillsayers on April 02, 2025, 07:59:30 pm »

 I'm a big fan of rooting hormone. Place a fresh cut on the stem, dip stem in water, then dip in the package of hormone, then push into the soil. Keep liberally watered.

 I have never propagated a Christmas Cactus so the individual method may vary.

 I found a video describing one method: