Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Keith13 on January 05, 2009, 06:14:14 pm

Title: Bees out and working hard
Post by: Keith13 on January 05, 2009, 06:14:14 pm: I went to check on the girls this past weekend, and boy was I surprised. We as of lately have had quite the warm few days. Since before Christmas highs have been in the 70's with lows maybe once or twice in the 30's but mainly in the 50's. Some days highs have been in the 80's. To say the least the bees are going crazy. Because of the warm weather the clover(dutch) has started to bloom the bees are all over it. Also the dandelions are blooming with the bees all over them as well. I also discovered another yellow flower in bloom that the bees are working I need to get a picture so maybe we can identify it. The activity of bees coming and going at the entrances is hectic. I have reducers on my hives to keep the mice out but they are now creating traffic jams of plump nectar, and pollen filled bees at the entrance. The one thing I am worried about is if we do get a sudden cold snap the girls might not be ready. Anyway I just wanted to share that not everybody is in a deep freeze right now. :) :)
How about some of you other South LA beek's?

Keith
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: Bennettoid on January 05, 2009, 06:22:55 pm: IT'S JANUARY PEOPLE!!!

Knock it off with the nectar and pollen reports!!!

:-\
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: Beaver Dam on January 05, 2009, 08:36:05 pm: What's up Benne? You getting jelous? I know I am here in the Ft Worth area. See a few D lions. Won't bee much longer.
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: TimV on January 05, 2009, 11:40:53 pm: Eucalyptus in San Luis County CA is in full bloom, and weather in the mid 60s. I checked several hives today, and should be able to harvest a super from all the strong hives this weekend. They were in the raspberries until recently, so are fairly strong.
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: BEES4U on January 06, 2009, 11:51:18 am: Eucalyptus in San Luis County CA is in full bloom
The Eucaluptus bloom in Ventura county is another poor year.
The trees are slowly dieing and the leaves are being chewed.
Yes, I use to make 20-30 pounds of honey.
Hopefully the willows will start in about 3-4 weeks.
Ernie
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: TimV on January 06, 2009, 12:16:11 pm: Ernie, I've heard about that bug. So far, there's nothing here. Don't you have some mustard though? I grew up in Ventura, and I thought some people would be able to start harvesting by now.
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: BEES4U on January 06, 2009, 11:13:55 pm: Don't you have some mustard though

The mustard is about 2" tall.
We are suposed to get 3" of rain this month. .08 so far.
Ernie
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: orvette1 on January 06, 2009, 11:26:30 pm: I'm glad I live in Hawaii. The coldest it got so far is 68 at night. There are different flowers and plants blooming year round. I have a new hive I started from a swarm. It is about 3 months old. The girls have put lots of honey away already. Later this year I will put on some honey supers and get honey! That is if I can keep the varroa mite in check. This is the first time we have had to deal with them. Good luck to everyone else!
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: TimV on January 06, 2009, 11:46:17 pm: Thanks, Ernie

I thought it would be blooming down there by now.
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: Michael Bush on January 07, 2009, 06:51:48 am: It was 29 F yesterday and I drove by one of the yards right at sunset. The bees were returning from somewhere afield... crazy bees.
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: ArmucheeBee on January 07, 2009, 12:41:42 pm: Do the bees still go out and get tree sap this time of year for propolis? Or is that not true any time of year.
Title: Re: Bees out and working hard
Post by: TimV on January 07, 2009, 05:25:01 pm: Especially now, since honey is a valuable commodity in the animal kingdom at this time. At least as long as it's warm enough to fly.