Nectar Flow!

Hive in Shakopee, so tall! 

  We went to visit our 7 hives on July19, after a very hot and warm week. In Shakopee, we had to add another super on our best hive #1. There is a total of 6 supers already! This is going to be fun (not!) to carry all those heavy boxes across the field to our car. We will see maybe Peter will let us borrow his 4 wheeler.

  As this hive is magnificent, the queen is so prolific, the bees are healthy and very busy. We cannot say that about the other hive, which is really struggling. The queen does not lay more than a handful of eggs. We saw less than 20-25 capped cells of brood. There are plenty of nectar and pollen, but the colony is not going to survive. It is too small to sustain itself properly. Of course we could intervene (again!), and give them a few frames of eggs and bees but then there is a potential risk to disrupt our other hives at a very important time in the season. We have decided to do nothing and to wait and see. If it is not doing well, there must be a reason; but at this pint I don't know what is happening. Since the spring, it has caused us headaches...So, let it be.

Bees on the porch in Chanhassen!

Our 4 colonies in Chanhassen are doing well. This warm and hot weather encouraged everyone to bring back lots of nectar and lots of pollen. All queens are finally doing very well, and seem eager to lay many eggs! The honey bee population has now exploded. Drones are around, surveying the surrounding!

While  temperatures are climbing, the bees spend a lot of time outside the hive...resting and getting some "fresh air" (see picture).

The overwintering hive (#1) is doing well, we added another super, making in 4. Colonies #2 and #3 are progressing nicely, collecting nectar and storing it in the supers as well. They are also working on making new wax for the cells, this activity is called: drawing the combs. This requires a lot of energy and resources from the bees.

Fresh wax

The Russian colony

The Russian colony in Chanhassen remains calm, and very busy. Those darker bees are always in a good mood, bringing nectar and pollen like they are suppose to do at this time. It has five supers now, and the honeybees are filling the cells rhythmically without stress. Beautiful to watch the bees coming and going. It does smell very nice when we open the hive...warm honey...delicious!

That is all for now.   Farmer's Market in St.Boni today from 3-7pm!

The Bees and Summer

The hives are getting taller!

We finally can say that Summer is here! After a difficult Spring, and very wet June...the bees are happier. Our 7 hives are doing fine now. The queens are all healthy, and busy laying eggs. The foragers come back with loads of pollen on their legs! Now that we had few days in the 80's F (26C), they are collecting a lot of nectar. While driving, it is good to see that there are many plants in bloom for the bees. I hope the weather will stay warm and sunny for few weeks encouraging the foragers! Since mid-June I put many supers (box to collect honey). The hives are really tall...some are now as tall as I am!

I was so busy in June with the queens, and trying to save the colonies that I forgot to tell you that Nicolas and I are doing 2 Farmers' Market selling our honey! 

Nicolas and Karine selling honey!

We are in St. Boni (Wednesdays 3-7pm) and St.Louis Park ( 10-2pm) Farmers' Market once a month. In July we will be in St. Louis Park on July 9, and St. Boni July 24. If you have a time, come and stop by!

Happy 4th. of July!