Get a grip woman!

Karmacat

I've seen the "bearding" happen, didn't know it was called that - they ended up in a football shape at one stage, we think the queen must have come out of nest as well (it was bee-made,in a friend's eaves!).

trix-a-belle

SL i've found a very interesting page on FB you (& others) might like to view, it was interesting and terrifying to me in equal measures due to the quantities involved.... SAAF Bees

Suffolk_lass

That's interesting, thank you Trix. We follow Essex Bees and I am a member of a group; Stewart's beekeeping basics. Lots of commercial beekeepers are feeding their bees syrup already, many because they have taken the honey. We don't plan to take much if any, but we might if they get too big.

Suffolk_lass

Made the bees very cross trying to do an inspection yesterday. DH leads, I support. The smoker went out and he went to relight it, leaving the top off the hive. I am sure this upset them. Anyway, we got to examine the super on top and lift the queen excluder off and then they got really cross and started stinging him. It was through his gloves but over 20. I only use a jacket and not a suit and they were quite buzzy around me so I suggested we stop and I think he was a bit relieved. We will have to try again but I want to make sure the smoker is properly alight and he has his brush with him, rather than fiddlearsing about when the top is off the hive. So many wasps about they don't need to feel they are being attacked. Anyway, that was my interpretation of what was happening. 

We also found yet another wasps nest that needs treating. I hope I still feel calm when we try again, as I'm sure they sense when we are not calm and in control.

Plan B will be to involve our mentor for advice.

themadvix

Ooh, that does sound tricky SL. I think you're right about needing to be calm and collected - animals just know, and I'm sure that goes for bees too. Good luck for next time. I take it DH was OK after all the stings?

Suffolk_lass

Yes, DH was wearing thick gloves. The stings were in the gloves rather than him. Just one got through and we watched it walk round its sting to extract it. The others would have died as their stings were poking out of the gloves. Too much rain to look again yesterday - we went to a garden centre to buy some seeds.

themadvix

Oh glad they didn’t get him, but poor bees 😔

 It was very wet yesterday! Are the seeds for winter crops or are you buying in the sales for next year?

Suffolk_lass

A bit of both really. I wanted some more bee-friendly things so Borage was top of my list (3 packets, from different companies), a wild flower mix, some rudbeckia, echinacea, cosmos and thyme seeds, some reduced blauhilde beans (think black runner beans that are less stringy) - oh and a cheeky sedum pot found its way in.

The beans were for my sister and I (it is her birthday today by coincidence) - I sent her some of my glut of beans by post and she emailed to ask if I could keep some seed if I collected some. When I saw them reduced I thought I could treat us both (we no longer do presents but I sometimes send bits and pieces, just because) - she is near my Mum in Scotland and does 100% of the discreet care Mum needs.

themadvix

The bee-friendly seeds will be much appreciated, I'm sure And the present for your sister sounds lovely too. 

trix-a-belle

useful fact for you from a florist friend of mine... 'Bees are particularly attracted to ‘blue’ flowers, although this can be confusing as many varieties labelled as blue are in fact more of a purple tone. Their vision is geared to see blue/purple & ultraviolet, yet they are completely blind to reds.'