We grow used to associating certain plants with months or days of the year, our powder blue flag irises flower on my eldest son’s birthday, mid May. Memories A favourite rose bush flowered at the end of May, sealed in my memory bank as my parents helped me unload a van with my paintings at midnight […]
Honey judging
This week began with me being one of the judges for the London International Honey Awards. Ten of us, led by Dr Gian Luigi Marcazzan and Raffaele Dal’Olio spent a long full day tasting samples sent to London from around the globe. We met together on Sunday in London’s Hilton Doubletree Riverside Hotel, a short […]
Beekeeping, first steps, which hive?
Sometimes the hive comes with a property, or way before any thought of bees or beekeeping. If you are able to plan , and chose the hive best suited to your, and the bees’ needs, you will all be happier! I shall discuss the various types and their purpose. Hives for honey National Hive If […]
So, you want bees in your garden?
As Spring approaches, many of us begin to notice more of the wildlife in our gardens. The many birds nesting and the reassuring buzz around all the new flowers bursting into bloom. It is also the time that I get many enquiries about bees, and beehives. So why would you want to have a beehive? […]
Pseudoscorpions, bees and varroa
The first time I heard of these creatures was from Jenny and Karen of Ujubee in South Africa. They told of a swarm they were observing that settled beneath a concrete picnic table. Swarm Whilst filming the bees settling in a cluster around their queen, Jenny & Karen noticed a tiny insect scurrying around […]
Apricot Blossom, how do the bees know where to find it?
I absolutely adore apricots, and whilst poorly, one of my treats was rustling up the energy to make an apricot ‘tart tatin’. Raymond Blanc has a fab recipe that I would adapt to gluten and sugar free. Greg bought me my very own apricot tree three years ago, to plant against our kitchen wall. […]
Bee hives and windy weather
This past month has been really challenging for my poor bees as unusually strong gusts of wind have been plaguing the various apiaries I am responsible for. My first casualty was a lone Warre hive we keep in my husband’s orchard, about 5 miles away. This hive is one I was given by a retiring […]
Winter feeding of bees
Winter feeding of bees Bees can survive in the wild on very small quantities of honey, however, in milder winters when the bees aren’t cold enough to go into torpor ( a state of stillness like hibernation) then they need a lot more. 18kg is the average recommended by most beekeeping authorities for managed colonies. […]
Ready for Spring?
This year, spring seems to have come all of a sudden and surprised us all with the sunshine and the warm sunny longer days Since working with Bees my awareness and appreciation of the natural cycle in order of things has changed. I’ve learned now that the winter months, like the bees, is my rest […]
Tasting Chicago Honey
www.facebook.com/PaulaCarnellcreatingabuzz/videos/645182902565324 I was given a selection of honeys from a fabulous expert beekeeper, Marcin Matelski last week in Chicago. We were both speaking at Grayslale Beekeeping Group. This sample is the sunflower, buckwheat and goldenrod.