Moon take-off

With the weather improving, I thought I'd take a look to see what the bees are doing. As there were a number of jobs that needed doing, I decided to inspect each hive on a different day, starting with the Moon. This would also increase the number of pupils that could come out to see the bees.

However, Wednesdays are match days, so there were in fact no pupils that came out. Hrumpf! So much for wanting to involve more pupils. The first full inspection of the new season was therefore a very quiet affair: just another teacher and I.

If truth be told, I was slightly apprehensive about the first inspection. Have browsed through photos from last season, I realised again how many bees there are in the hive. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't be up to it, that I might panic, that the bees might be unsettled. Nothing of the sort. The bees were sweet as ever (I do love them!) and were unruffled by me putting my fat (well, not really) fingers in their home. I didn't even use a smoker (just had it ready as a back-up, in case), and they were lovely and calm.

The latest skyrise at Bee Wharf

So what did we do? We checked stores (lots and lots: at least four frames front and back still full of honey or syrup), checked for the queen (whom we didn't see, but lots of eggs and larvae, so she is busy laying), removed the cladding, the mouse guard and the fondant, put the bee gym in the bottom of the hive and re-jigged some frames. I am still battling with the fact that the original nucleus came last year with too short frames. This time I took out two short frames with honey stores and replaced them with fresh long frames. This should keep the bees busy (they are showing ambitious architectural tendencies: when I opened the hive, they had built a honeycomb dome and were busy trying to build more) as well as bring a bit more order to the hive. The honey will not be lost, as I left the frames in front of the hive, slit open, so the bees can find the honey, collect it and store it (again). I wonder how much of the outside honey will be left tomorrow, when I go to inspect the Star.

Scratched comb stores waiting to be collected (again)

Have just seen the weather report. Apparently there are sub zero temperatures coming our way again. Will replace the cladding on the Moon tomorrow, when I inspect the Star. Don't want the little darlings to freeze.