October 19, 2011

Anniversary of Brad’s leaving…and it’s a beautiful warm day here in Independence, Oregon, located in the mid Willamette Valley. We’ve not had a frost yet and it appears we’ll get to Nov 1 with little rain—if that happens I can make it through a rainy winter just fine. So today’s high was 75°, clear, barely noticeable breeze—fantastic Oregon fall day! I checked the top bar hive with a plan to remove empty B16 and B15 if there was little honey left on it and move the follower to reduce air space.  Yes, most of the honey was gone and B15 and B16 removed; ¾” spacer inserted and follower moved. I placed B15 on the cradle and set it on the kitchen table for display and to have the honey, wax, and propolis smell in the house…nice. And that’s it for the fall unless we learn something that indicates we need to check the hive sooner than late winter. Jody and I are looking for learning opportunities on top bar hive beekeeping and found what looks to be an interesting experience: http://www.friendlyhaven.com/classes.html.

A few ideas I’ve picked up during recent reading:

*To determine the start or end of honey flow:  Place 1 tablespoon of honey on a shallow container in the sun. If nectar is unavailable, bees will find it within 15 min or so and call others to the feast.

*Use Mrs. Stewart’s liquid bluing for stings

*Sprinkle a little salt on the entry board—bees will take if needed

*Construct some kind of an entrance board for the tbh???

*Sprinkle cinnamon to stop ants on their path.

Bees still flying, although in reduced numbers, and returning with pollen and nectar. Bees throughout the yard on the plants purchased and planted last month—wait until next year when the plants have grown and become established…there will be buzzing all around!