Winter 2013-2014

Jason and I last winter clearing the opening of the bee hives of frost from a couple of -20 to -30 degree F nights.
Nothing like being  "snug as a bug in a rug".

Fall to Winter Survival

Yellowjackets trying to rob honey and maybe even move into the hive.
Battle was intense but I think the honey bees won out.

Spring 2014

Got all 3 of my splits home and checked out last week. All doing fine, one exceptionally well. It was cold and crappy when I did the splits about a month ago, but the queens were ordered so had to do it. As I don't use a bee hood, I had to resort to cheapo mosquito net to keep the bees a bit at bay and consequently I didn't do a great job splitting the primary colonies but did make sure to get 3-4 frames of brood and the nurse bees that were on them but wasn't in the mood for what would happen if I tried to shake more into the secondary colonies...as I didn't think the bees would be in the mood for it.

I had to go into the lower brood box on one of the colonies to find the queen and luckily in the other 2 she was in the top box. Had to locate the queens to make sure I introduced the new queens into a colony that was queenless.
I also placed 3 or so honey frames for food in each split that was from the colonies I killed off last fall.
With the cold and wet weather was a bit concerned that the split (secondary) colonies might not have enough food, but when I opened them last week there was still some honey in each and the queens were laying.
That means that I got by with no syrup at all this spring.
Things are look great with the nice weather this morning.

Will have 6 hives/colonies for 2014. Based on past years, that should produce around 400 lbs. of honey to be available to offer customers.

 
Bringing in a least 3 different kinds of pollen, based on colors, for food for the brood.

April 9, 2014

Well, 2 of the 4 colonies make it through one of the toughest winters in 20-30 years. 3 of the 4 were still alive in February, but one of the 3 didn't quite make it to the end.

The 2 that died out had honey/food in them, but I just think it got too cold and the cluster couldn't move to the far side of the hive to find the 2.5 frames of honey. Both dead colonies were the same in this manner with about the same amount of honey that wasn't found/used.

But, the 2 that came through are doing well and maybe will be that much stronger for it. Obviously the bees/queen are hardy.

I added a 3rd hive and will split these 3 and after purchasing 3 queens from my supplier near Owen, WI will hopefully end up with 6 strong hives this season. The 3 are the short stacks with covers. The 4th taller stack is from the 2 colonies that died. There was a lot of honey in them so the bees are finding that source and using it for spring food. That way I don't need to use syrup. It all works out!

The bees are bringing in pollen. About 2-3 weeks behind last year as in March 2013 they were harvesting pollen. Today, 4-9-14 was the first day I noticed pollen on the bees.

Winter 2013-14

Bees all doing well and getting settled in for the winter. The temps were in the mid- 30's when I wrapped the hives on Nov. 30th. with tar/felt paper. This isn't so much to hold the heat but to absorb the sun's heat.
The bees in all 4 hives were aggressive and eager to come out to see who was pounding nails in their house, so that tells me they are healthy. Sick bees don't move much.
I'll be keeping an eye on them but by and large they are on their own for the next few months.
I have honey stored in the garage for them come spring from the 3 hives I killed off in Sept.

WELCOME!!!!

I'm just starting this blog on my beekeeping efforts in Plover, WI. where I harvest small batches of great tasting honey, all by hand.
Over 45 years ago the father of a childhood friend of mine from north central WI helped his son and I get started in bees. His name was Chuck. Chuck died over 10 years ago from cancer.

 

I worked with the bees for 3-4 years before I decided that family obligations and work was enough to keep me busy. Back in the 1980's with the boys.

In 2011 I started back up. It's amazing how much I remembered about working with bees. There is much I'll get into on this blog about the joys of bee keeping....one of which is having my grandson help me! The little guy above in the middle lower in red is the father of Jason below.

Our backyard adjoins to DNR land that the Little Plover River runs through.

The nectar gathered by the bees is primarily from local backyard flower gardens, clover from boulevards and shoulders of our small town streets along with all the local wild flowers available to the bees in and around town. They get their water from the stream/river above near the hives.
All this combines to make a very sweet and delicious honey, as many of my friends, family and customers have told me. I will include some testimonials here so check back to read them.

Bee yard, summer of 2013.