Daydream thread continues.....

Leif

RAS wrote: »

It is really hard to find brew like that now. All posh and hygenic now- I remember the straw and cobwebs and the smell.

I had some gorgeous stuff near Bee Sands a few years back. Also our locally offy sometimes gets in a plastic barrel of good stuff from the West Country, and you can order it yourself, albeit within a certain radius. Look up JJ's West Country Cider. I dare not order a 40 pint container, for reasons that might be obvious, so I stick to the local offy, as and when he has some in.

lostinrates

Something very, very odd is happening. I noticed autumnal leaves last week at the very tip tops of sopme trees, and somewhat understood that in the weather. But now, my very old and very dreadful apple tree, has bloosom. So we have blossom, fruit and turning leaves all on the same tree! How weird is that?

RAS

I noticed a spray of flowers on an apple tree last week as well.

We were saying this week that the bees seem think it is April?

rhiwfield

We had a spray of flowers on our pear tree last week, to go with the two pears that somehow pollinated earlier this year.

Lir, I think Alf must have access to all the scrap and salvage yards in the Forest!

RAS

alfie_1 wrote: »

Q1....time of year they are likely to do this flit ?
Q2.... is there an ideal venue for a hive ? they are about 12ft up at the mo,and tend to go in 2 tile holes but both lead to the canopy under my window

Now I can see the local geography, I understand why the colony thought your window would be a good home.

Normally, a swarm will not create any more queen cells or swarm again that year. So you would need to put a hive in place next spring to attract the ineviditable swarm in April/May. And hope that the colony in the window would cast itself into oblivion (casts a mini-swarms created when the colony produces lots of queens).

We ain't got normally at the moment. OK I an up north but your weather has not been a lot better.

Some 2011 queens have failed mid-summer. probably did not mate sufficiently because of the crap weather last year.

All three of our colonies produced queen cells in July - masses. We have the death bucket for queen cells we have removed - dozens last weekend and we have to do another check this weekend.

So I would start by getting a good cardboard box with no holes (the ones for spirit bottles are strong). Get yourself a veil of some sort. New they start from about £7 if you wear them over a normal hat. And locate the zipped boilersuit.

Or call your local swarm control.

If you want to keep the bees long-term, ferret on freegle or freecycle as bee-keeping is not a cheap hobby. Or see if you can cobble together a top-bar hive from all your timber http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=top-bar+beekeeping&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=XuQSUPCeAsLP0QXTtoHYCw&ved=0CFkQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=1007

There are also warre hives http://warre.biobees.com/plans.htm which look more like people expect.

We keep our bees on an allotment in what looks like a tall fruit cage (with no top) that forces them to fly above 2 mettres to leave their hive and means they do not disturb the allotment holder. Another colony is tucked in amongst a small orchard. The bees fly south-east, and the land in that direction drops sharlply, so they are flying above head height any way.

If you have a flat roofed garage, that can also be a good place to stash them, as long as you remember that a traditional full super weighs 30lbs and a full brood box about 50lbs, so 2 brood boxes and three supers is the best part of 200lb/90kgs.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Even though we will never have bees, it is really interesting to read about them on the thread..

I am now watching the olympic thing on the bbc... not bored YET... but i am sure after tonight i will be reaaly bored well except the men's 100 mtres..( is lynford christie running:D:cool::p)

its the monthly farm auction tomorrow ...so i should imagine it will be busy there, due to the weather...wonder what bargins we will pick up tomorrow, last one we had our trailer and more geese...

Def feel it cooler than last night... They have given rain for sunday, monday and tuesday... ( as long as it doesnt rain for the bulldog in 2 weeks:rotfl:)

alfie_1

RAS........... brilliant ...thankyou..

LIR.....troughs equal £££s... planters for your own use can cost PPPs

NO BRAINER :D:D

COOLTRIKERCHICK

LIR agree with Alfie..... sell 'cash is king'

I have wanted to keep some vintage fabric, quilts etc for the new place, BUT I need the money more...so i have sold them

I have an old bread oven door somewhere, which we 'aquired':cool: on our travels etc... It does need some tlc, but if it is any good for you LIR i can send it to you.... will take some pics and post them.... If it isnt suitable, i will keep my eyes peeled around the place

lostinrates

Ooh, thanks ctc.
Cash IS king, you are bith right. . Stil have not listed oil tank either.

We meant to get so much done today but the heat overcame us, so we lazed, toorrow it is meant to be cooler so we HAVE to move some wood.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Here we go.. still got the hindge thing on it..the door just needs a dam good clean with a wire brush etc, and then blackened up should look good...

how many doors are you looking for?