As I passed her walking home, she casually asked, “Any leaves?” and, quietly pleased, I replied “a few”, knowing I’d already taken most of them. A small but satisfying victory in our friendly rivalry.
November 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
As I passed her walking home, she casually asked, “Any leaves?” and, quietly pleased, I replied “a few”, knowing I’d already taken most of them. A small but satisfying victory in our friendly rivalry.
Back from hols, found the space below my bee hive littered with dead drone bees, scattered discarded husks. The girl bees (workers) have decided males are no longer worth feeding over winter.
September 27, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Back from hols, found the space below my bee hive littered with dead drone bees, scattered discarded husks. The girl bees (workers) have decided males are no longer worth feeding over winter.
My honey this year was a similar colour and texture.
September 7, 2025 at 9:34 AM
My honey this year was a similar colour and texture.
It looks like a bee but is a fly pretending to be a bee (drone honey bee) so that other insects think it carries a weapon (of deadly repercussions). Deterrent works in nature as a defence mechanism.
August 28, 2025 at 9:41 PM
It looks like a bee but is a fly pretending to be a bee (drone honey bee) so that other insects think it carries a weapon (of deadly repercussions). Deterrent works in nature as a defence mechanism.
Another inspection yesterday. Was hoping for some sign of recovery, but things aren’t turning around. Another queen had died, no eggs, no brood pattern, and the hive was disorganized and aimless. It was quiet in the wrong way. Out of the seven colonies I had back in May, only one is Queen-right.
July 10, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Another inspection yesterday. Was hoping for some sign of recovery, but things aren’t turning around. Another queen had died, no eggs, no brood pattern, and the hive was disorganized and aimless. It was quiet in the wrong way. Out of the seven colonies I had back in May, only one is Queen-right.
As one of my hives has gone rogue with laying workers taken over, and the brood is all drone. I had no choice today, but to destroy 6 frames of drone comb. Not good, but I’m hoping it’s not too late.
The plan is to combine what’s left with a queen-right colony.
The plan is to combine what’s left with a queen-right colony.
June 30, 2025 at 1:42 PM
As one of my hives has gone rogue with laying workers taken over, and the brood is all drone. I had no choice today, but to destroy 6 frames of drone comb. Not good, but I’m hoping it’s not too late.
The plan is to combine what’s left with a queen-right colony.
The plan is to combine what’s left with a queen-right colony.
Lots of scattered Drone brood in the hive that killed the queen I introduced. Seems odd that they killed their only chance of survival.
June 27, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Lots of scattered Drone brood in the hive that killed the queen I introduced. Seems odd that they killed their only chance of survival.
Bad news- the queen I introduced was killed and I have egg laying workers
June 15, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Bad news- the queen I introduced was killed and I have egg laying workers
My honey this year is going to be bursting with the delicate nectar of blackberry flowers from the hedgerows around the allotments. Rich, aromatic, and subtly fruity, the honey captures the taste of June.
June 12, 2025 at 12:20 PM
My honey this year is going to be bursting with the delicate nectar of blackberry flowers from the hedgerows around the allotments. Rich, aromatic, and subtly fruity, the honey captures the taste of June.
Introductions are tricky - they might get on and start feeding the new Queen or might think she’s a usurper and try and knock her off by overheating.
June 7, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Introductions are tricky - they might get on and start feeding the new Queen or might think she’s a usurper and try and knock her off by overheating.
Her majesty arrived- gave her a dab of last year’s honey to get her ready to meet the staff.
June 6, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Her majesty arrived- gave her a dab of last year’s honey to get her ready to meet the staff.
1 of 6
A concern. The green-marked queen is nowhere. At the last inspection there was a swarm cell and a virgin queen, but now no sign of a laying queen. Worryingly, I noticed multiple eggs in some cells, possibly egg-laying workers, though I can’t rule out wax moth eggs. No capped brood at all.
A concern. The green-marked queen is nowhere. At the last inspection there was a swarm cell and a virgin queen, but now no sign of a laying queen. Worryingly, I noticed multiple eggs in some cells, possibly egg-laying workers, though I can’t rule out wax moth eggs. No capped brood at all.
June 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
1 of 6
A concern. The green-marked queen is nowhere. At the last inspection there was a swarm cell and a virgin queen, but now no sign of a laying queen. Worryingly, I noticed multiple eggs in some cells, possibly egg-laying workers, though I can’t rule out wax moth eggs. No capped brood at all.
A concern. The green-marked queen is nowhere. At the last inspection there was a swarm cell and a virgin queen, but now no sign of a laying queen. Worryingly, I noticed multiple eggs in some cells, possibly egg-laying workers, though I can’t rule out wax moth eggs. No capped brood at all.
My Bees 2nd June Critical inspection today. Now at a tipping point in the season – the choices I make now will shape how the hives perform. Most colonies are in a fragile state of transition, some potentially queenless, others just beginning to recover from earlier manipulations.
6 colonies:
6 colonies:
June 2, 2025 at 3:27 PM
My Bees 2nd June Critical inspection today. Now at a tipping point in the season – the choices I make now will shape how the hives perform. Most colonies are in a fragile state of transition, some potentially queenless, others just beginning to recover from earlier manipulations.
6 colonies:
6 colonies:
My nuc hive queen has swarmed. I must have missed the queen cell in last weeks inspection. But I spotted the virgin queen usurper making strange noises as she was about to start her nuptial flight
May 20, 2025 at 6:57 AM
My nuc hive queen has swarmed. I must have missed the queen cell in last weeks inspection. But I spotted the virgin queen usurper making strange noises as she was about to start her nuptial flight
Allotment has exploded
May 17, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Allotment has exploded
Hectic week! Started 2 hives and 2 boxes, and now have 7 colonies—4 hives & 3 boxes. One box originally from neighbour, who thought they might supersede. Another had a queen cell 2nd hive. I artificially split the other hive that had 20 queen cells, and then over the weekend, collected 2 swarms.
May 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Hectic week! Started 2 hives and 2 boxes, and now have 7 colonies—4 hives & 3 boxes. One box originally from neighbour, who thought they might supersede. Another had a queen cell 2nd hive. I artificially split the other hive that had 20 queen cells, and then over the weekend, collected 2 swarms.
Inside the railway bridge tunnel - light at the other side
May 7, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Inside the railway bridge tunnel - light at the other side
I just wonder what they are thinking
April 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I just wonder what they are thinking
Bees feeding off plum blossom
April 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Bees feeding off plum blossom
A Nuc to replenish bees lost last year. Watching them reset GPS.
April 10, 2025 at 12:38 PM
A Nuc to replenish bees lost last year. Watching them reset GPS.