April 27

Bee Meeting this Saturday – 12:00 Noon

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It’s official, I will be picking up our bees this Saturday in West Jefferson.  I plan an earlier start so we can meet at noon this Saturday and eat up less of your afternoon.  Should I be delayed, I will text you and give you the new time, but anticipate that this start time will work.  Please be sure to park across the street and bring all your tools and supplies:

Hive Excluder (small block of wood with different size openings)

smoker

hive tool

protective gear – hat and veil, gloves

Boots, long pants and long sleeve shirt

1 gallon of fresh sugar water 2 parts sugar to 1 part water (make the night before)

camera not required, but suggest you have one

Permanent, fine point, sharpy or similar writing took

I suggest some kind of tool carrier for all your bee tools

if you have any questionns, concerns, ideas, or comments…please write in comment section for this post below.

 

 

 

 

April 15

It’s Time!…….Your Bees will be Arriving Saturday, April 23…

Soon, you will be in your protective gear as well!

Soon, you will be in your protective gear as well!

So far we have set two beehives up for our new arrivals (3 if you count mine).  It is important that we set your hive in its location before we introduce the bees to their new home.  Please contact me so we can schedule a time to place your hive.

My current plans are for us to meet at the Francis Smith Apiary next Saturday, April 23, at 2:30 PM to begin the process of introducing your bees to their new home.  Even if you have already read and watched the materials I have provided, please do so again so you will be familiar with the process of adding new bees to their hive.

Long pants and long sleeve shirts are essential as this hands on experience and will serve as part of your bee protection.   Remember to bring with you one gallon of sugar water 2 parts sugar to 1 part water when you come Saturday.  Bring your hive tool, smoker, and protective gear with you.

If you have questions or concerns, please post them in the comment section below or you may contact me directly.

April 11

Fun Facts About Honeybees, Hives, and Honey

 

The Honeybee is a magical creature. The more you know, the more you want to know!

The Honeybee is a magical creature. The more you know, the more you want to know!

• There are three types of bees in the hive – Queen, Worker and Drone.
• The queen may lay 600-800 or even 1,500 eggs each day during her 3 or 4 year lifetime. This daily egg production may equal her own weight. She is constantly fed and groomed by attendant worker bees.
• Bees maintain a temperature of 92-93 degrees Fahrenheit in their central brood nest regardless of whether the outside temperature is 110 or -40 degrees.
• A populous colony may contain 40,000 to 60,000 bees during the late spring or early summer.
• Honey is 80% sugars and 20% water.
• Honey bees fly at 15 miles per hour.
• To make one pound of honey, the bees in the colony must visit 2 million flowers, fly over 55,000 miles and will be the lifetime work of approximately 300 bees.
• A single honeybee will only produce approximately 1/12 teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
• A single honey bee will visit 50-100 flowers on a single trip out of the hive.
• A honeycomb cell has six sides.
• Bees produce honey as food stores for the hive during the long months of winter when flowers aren’t blooming and therefore little or no nectar is available to them.
• Honey bees’ wings stroke 11,400 times per minute, thus making their distinctive buzz.
• Honeybees are the only insect that produce food for humans.
• Honey is the ONLY food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including water.
• A typical beehive can make up to 400 pounds of honey per year
• Honeybees will usually travel approximately 3 miles from their hive.
• Honeybees are the only bees that die after they sting.
• Honey never spoils.
• It would take about 1 ounce of honey to fuel a honeybee’s flight around the world.
• Honeybees are responsible for approx 80% of all fruit, vegetable and seed crops in the U.S.
• Honeybees never sleep!
• Flowers and other blossoming plants have nectarines that produce sugary nectar. Worker bees suck up the nectar and water and store it in a special honey stomach. When the stomach is full the bee returns to the hive and puts the nectar in an empty honeycomb. Natural chemicals from the bee’s head glands and the evaporation of the water from the nectar change the nectar into honey.
• Honeybees have five eyes, 3 small ones on top of the head and two big ones in front. They also have hair on their eyes!
• Bees communicate with each other by dancing and by using pheromones (scents)
• Out of 20,000 species of bees, only 4 make honey.
• Although Utah enjoys the title “The Beehive State,” the top honey-producing states include California, Florida, and South Dakota.

April 7

A Journey In Beekeeping Begins for Erin – Smith Apiary and Bee School

Erin took her time settling on a site for her new hive. She decided close to G and within an existing flower bed.

Erin took her time settling on a site for her new hive. She decided close to G and within an existing flower bed.

 

As a final shot, there are always learning opportunities when you are with Mr. G. Had to step into the local pet shop as Jim is helping me build a very SPECIAL BEE HIVE FOR OUR CLASS. More about that later!

Setting the base with concrete blocks and leveling the deep box.

Setting the base with concrete blocks and leveling the deep box.

Inserting the preformed wax frames into the deep.

Inserting the preformed wax frames into the deep.

Setting the shallow box (also known as a super) on top of the deep. Please note that there are five frames missing from the deep box as this is where we will insert the 5 frames of bees from the nuc of bees we have ordered in about two weeks.

Setting the shallow box (also known as a super) on top of the deep. Please note that there are five frames missing from the deep box as this is where we will insert the 5 frames of bees from the nuc of bees we have ordered in about two weeks.

Adding 10 preformed shallow frames to her super.

Adding 10 preformed shallow frames to her super.

Capping her project is the top hive feeder and the roof for her hive. A beautiful stone rests on top to secure the roof from predators and wind.

Capping her project is the top hive feeder and the roof for her hive. A beautiful stone rests on top to secure the roof from predators and wind.

The instructor, Mr. G, steps in and gives her a thumbs up with her newly set hive in the background.

The instructor, Mr. G, steps in and gives her a thumbs up with her newly set hive in the background.

After looking at my hive, Erin has decided to go back and build a stand for her hive....the addition of a beautiful stand became a must for her!

After looking at my hive, Erin has decided to go back and build a stand for her hive….the addition of a beautiful stand became a must for her!

Erin also had an opportunity to meet Frances Smith who continues to live on our newly acquired property and for whom our apiary is named. She absolutely fell in love with Frances!

Erin also had an opportunity to meet Frances Smith who continues to live on our newly acquired property and for whom our apiary is named. She absolutely fell in love with Frances!

April 6

First Hive Ready for the Smith Apiary

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Erin Denison claims 1st to finish her hive and we will be placing her new “bee castle” on our Apiary property.  Andy Lathem is not far behind and I expect a photo from him soon.  We may be placing his hive as well.  Love the originality I am seeing, and the Bees will love it as well!  Time is wasting…better be a busy boo like my Harper Sue and get busy.  Please send me photos of your finished hives!

Harper Sue is still working on her hive!

Harper Sue is still working on her hive!