Friday 24 May '19 - unplanned inspection - big surprise!!

Sorry - this is a late posting.  Friday was warm and QB couldn't resist the opportunity to Springclean the Beebunker.  However, once in the apiary and watching the bees inning and outing, pollen sacs loaded, I had to look inside the hives. Sadly, only 4 now - Stone, Yellow/blue, Red and Yellow 'H'.

Stone - disappointing - not much going on. Q laying only in the 2 shallow combs. QB adjusted brood nest to encourage stoneQ to move into deep frames.
Yellow/blue - unbelievable!!  Used smoker:  so many bees! Q. laying on 5 frames and started on 6th. QB gave new foundation (to give bees something to do!) Super very heavy - nearly full!  Where is the nectar source? Certainly no Oilseed rape here.  Action - gave 2nd super of drawn comb.
WATCH this  colony!
Red - VERY Strong colony - Q has filled 3 shallow combs + extended comb and has filled 2 deep comb.  Action - gave drawn foundation at side of broodnest for Q to lay in. 
Super not very heavy. No need for 2nd super.
Yellow 'H' - Picking up well Bees extending shallow comb (from winter super) and Q laying in it. Also Q starting laying on deep comb. QB very happy ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Too wet to beekeep! So.....Kangal pups love mud!

A wet cool Bank holiday weekend so what to do?

Qb won't shrink in the rain. Decided to dig out Spring bulbs and rehome them in buckets ………………...

to replant next Autumn.  At least I made a start to empty the tubs.  Then came inside and made a batch of smoker cartridges. Quick and easy and saves time later. Use corrugated cardboard (make sure it isn't fire retardant-ed!), loose-weave sacking and string or brown gumstrip. Roll up tight to fit your smoker. 4 cartridges made in minutes!!   BUT MEANWHILE outside in the rain!!!!
Kangal pups love wet and mud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whoops! 
It wasn't me!  BIG Trouble!!!!!
 

Silver colony GONE!!!!

QB decided to Spring- clean the apiary this afternoon.  Scraped moss off concrete base - well left some moss on as the bees like to suck it for water.
It isn't very warm but thought I'd have a little peek in the top of each colony to assess the food (candy and Nektapol). All colonies flying except Silver.
That was the colony where the Q laid drone and I found her wandering around on her own 2 weeks ago. The best thing, I thought then with my 45years of accumulated wisdom - Ha! ha!, was to combine Silver with Yellow "H" which also seemed rather weak. Anyway I left it too late.
Today when I opened Silver the hive was completely empty. Not even any dead ones. No sign of Q cells on the comb.
Now I've heard of this happening to other  beekeepers but this is a first for me.
I wonder where they went? Unless one of you lovely readers suggests otherwise I will assume they just mingled with the other colonies on one of those very warm days we've had recently. QBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZz

Kangal on a wet Saturday

No, the photo. isn't upside-down! It's the dog! We've just come back from a walkie. Well some heel practice anyway. In the pouring rain.  So "If you won't play with me the teddy bear gets it!"  and remember blog readers the bear sings "Frostie the Snowman" each time you bite its left paw.

Bringing up Kangal

Throwing Kong Wubba is as good a a gym workout

He's 48kg now - 6months old. When he's good he's very, very, good but when he's bad - well !!!!!!!!!!! Anyway he get's fixated on things. This week it's bamboo canes and the plastic mesh they hold in place for the clematis to climb.  It's possible, but exhausting, to distract him.


But the squeaking threatens your mental stability1

Last week's obsession - eating Gandalf (weeping Cyprus)
A great way of annoying the humans.

NEXT WEEK??????

Too wet to open hives/ but look at the pollen.

Bees love Ribes (flowering currant).

This weekend I had planned to invite a friend to take her first peek inside a beehive. I think it's a bit risky. Lower temp. might chill the brood.  Heaven knows, I want to give them every chance of expanding the brood nest - so let them alone.  In the garden the apple blossom is out along with the silver birch catkins and wisteria (slow).

Silver birch full of catkins - clouds of pollen

Wisteria - bees love it - what a perfume!


     

Korean Fir - this year's cones and male flowers. Clouds of pollen and plenty of resin.

The Veg. Garden progresses at snailpace! No good for my Cheshire head!

Thank goodness for some rain showers.  At last the little Alderman pea shoots have started to push through, and the silverskin onions have begun to germinate.  Not much left to do.  Sprouts and Primo cabbage plants need putting alongside the Tenderstem Broccoli under the big cloche (to keep out the Cabbage Whites and Wood Pigeons). The Globe Artichoke seedlings in the  greenhouse have roots coming out of the pots (10cm) so should I risk hardening off and planting out. Have we had the last hard frost?  That is the question. Sweet corn and Fr. Bean Cobra pose a similar problem.  Anyway, look at the garlic!! This is Red Duke - new to me. Behind is Carcassonne,Casablanca, Provencal.