One Tew Bee

Water Foraging Honey Bees

jim — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:08:41 +0000

Today, as I prepared to get the lawn mower out, I noticed a significant number of water foragers around a rain puddle in front of my tractor barn. I changed my plans and posted the water foraging activity at: Honey Bee Water Foragers. It was bee biology in motion. I’ll mow later.

Thanks to the Northwest Ohio Beekeepers Association

jim — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:50:02 +0000

NWOBA, thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk to your group last evening. The room was full of mostly new beekeepers with a few old folks mixed in for good measure. I wish I had more good answers for … Continue reading →

24 degrees F tonight in NE Ohio.

jim — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:14:08 +0000

Most of us who have been enjoying the truly strange early spring knew that a late freeze risk was possible. The hard freeze (24 degrees in NE Ohio) predicted for tonight will stress or even kill lightly-stored bee colonies. They have brooded up and will use their remaining stores to produce metabolic heat needed to incubate the brood. There is not much the beekeeper can do at this point. At least the cold snap is suppose to only last a single night. We all hoped this return to winter would not happen. Alas…

Thanks to the Virginia State Beekeepers’ Association (VSBA)

jim — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:33:00 +0000

VSBA, thanks for a wonderful, wonderful event at your Spring, 2012 meeting in Richmond, VA. (For those who don’t know, just a few days before the event, the meeting site had to be completely changed.) Everything worked well on … Continue reading →

My Maple Mystery Part 2

jim — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:27:42 +0000

To date, I am in the minority. For most of you, Maple is an obvious, viable source of early spring pollen. I certainly don’t doubt your observations. On my 4 medium-sized Maples, with binoculars, for about 5 observations on 4 different days, I could see may be 10-15 bees per observation. No clouds of bees. No hum of bees. Just the occasional forager. Certainly, these casual observations are not science. There are far too many variables not considered. In Ohio, beekeepers have the same issue with soybeans. Rarely, rarely a surplus honey crop from soybean – yet in other states, beekeepers routinely get major crops. I will be watching my maples again next year.

My Maple Mystery

jim — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:52:09 +0000

Maple blooms portend the arrival of spring for honeybees, yet I rarely (never) see a forager on maple blooms. Are maples getting credit for the pollen efforts of other early blooming plants or do I need stronger glasses?

A Maple Bloom (NE Ohio, March 2012)

Future Bee Exhibit at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village

jim — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:50:14 +0000

I just attended a great West Virginia bee meeting at the Heritage Farm Museum and Village sponsored by Cabell Wayne Beekeepers Association. In the near future, an impressive honey bee exhibit will be included on the grounds. Spectacular facility and impressive heritage museum.

A video visit to the bee yard on an early spring afternoon

jim — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:17:30 +0000

I have posted a short YouTube video called Spring Bee Flight. The day was nice and I wanted to be involved with my bees without actually opening a hive. See what you think.

jtew

Sugar Maple – in full bloom – my favorite flower

jim — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:47:24 +0000

Maples are in bloom in the Mid West. The flowers are not much to look at. Is it odd to say that it’s my favorite flower? Certainly my bees look forward to their blooming. It’s time to get ready for spring. I love seeing this blossom each year.

Spring time maple in full bloom

What new equipment do you like?

jim — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:25:08 +0000

I would appreciate any information and testimonials anyone might have related to new equipment offerings in the catalogs or that you may have constructed yourselves. I am presenting a discussion this upcoming Saturday on “New but useful equipment”. I could … Continue reading →