Get a grip woman!

Karmacat

Good luck, SL.  I'm sure it depends on the rain, plus their feeling unsettled, plus wanting to protect the queen in new circumstances.  Hope it all goes really well.

trix-a-belle

fingers crossed. is there a tea and cake equivalent welcome you can give a new hive?

themadvix

trix-a-belle said:

fingers crossed. is there a tea and cake equivalent welcome you can give a new hive?

I love the way you’ve put that Trix! Intrigued now to know if there is... can see the bees sitting around with fine china and scones (think they’d prefer the scones!) 😁

Suffolk_lass

Well they seem happy and they were out once it warmed up. DH went out all suited up last night just before dusk to despatch a ground wasps nest with ant powder. He squeezed a bit hard and the stopper burst off and all the powder ended up in the hole with lots of angry wasps, vindicating the decision to suit-up. We knew they were there and had been ignoring them but we have just started to reach the point when they get their sugar-lust and yesterday afternoon they were all round the hive because they could smell the honey with the sentries chasing them away, so it had to be done. There was lots of activity on lavendar and perovska this morning. The next big nectar source is ivy I think.

Not sure about tea and cake but I have been looking at improving the sources of nectar in our garden for next year and will be planting some different plants

rtandon27

Suffolk_lass said:

...The next big nectar source is ivy I think....
...improving the sources of nectar in our garden for next year and will be planting some different plants

Every day is a school day SL - I had no clue ivy was a good source of nectar!  - I feel a rabbit hole moment coming on...
...have a look at the National Beekeeping supplies website - they have a whole section of plants for the bees & at this time of year I'm sure there will be sales on...

trix-a-belle

great news they are out sunning themselves. i've found my Escalonia bush flowers are always a very busy spot & a particular salvia plant, i'm not sure where they rate on the nectar quality scale but bumbles certainly seem to love them

Karmacat

I'm loving this!  Cotoneaster, oregano, lavender of course - and early on, right up there with the bluebells, the quince flowers!  They love the quince, its fascinating.

rtandon27

I discovered early this year that the big fuzzy bees love the flowers of both rosemary & thyme - to the point that they appeared to be drunk on it - lol

trix-a-belle

oh yes how could I forget Lavender karmacat!
I only seem to find ants loving my rosemary

greent

We have lots of bees on our Virginia creeper (and, of course, the lavenders)