Been a hot Easter

The past couple of weeks have been very hot. It was the Easter holiday and I have been home, with my daughter who had Chicken Pox. We went out to the orchard a couple of times, we have seen various butterflies. Some I had never seen before; perhaps I just hadn't notice them. One was very pretty it was white with the bottom off its tails a bright yellow. It looked like a flower petal. I have also seen lots of the other insects, every thing from black and gold coloured beetles, lots of ladybirds and ants climbing around trees particularly on the Almond trees.

I have physically removed some caterpillars of leaves from all varieties of trees. I must admit I have not seen many aphids this year, but we do have lots of ladybirds, and in reality I have not been looking for them.

The Rabbits are getting bigger and again lots of them around. None have damaged to trees which is a good thing.

The trees are fine, but they all need some rain. I feel sorry for them in a way. It has been very very hot for this time of year.The Qunice seem very limp, compared to the other trees. So I'm hoping for rain and lots of it. If no rain comes I will have to water, which will be on the weekend.

I did attend the British BeeKeepers Spring Conference in Stoneleigh. I attended on the Friday 15th and the Saturday 16th. On the Friday I attended a number of lectures and on Saturday, it was more the sales side of things, although lectures were on I wasn't able to make any, perhaps next year. I have bought a couple more hives and some candlemaking equipment. Will let you know how the candlemaking goes. I will write more about the lectures soon. No pictures mind.

Bees are swarming. I now have two bee hives on the orchard the first was doing really well but I sow 15 Queen cells I removed all bar two and have started to feed the bees in the second hive. Will check on them again in a couple of days.

The grass at the orchard is also getting very long, the plan is to cut a path around and so that its easy to walk around etc. That may be done this weekend. Depends on my brother and transport.

Mothering Sunday a walk through the Orchard

It was Mothering Sunday yesterday and I asked my mum if she wanted to wonder around the orchard with me. The answer was a NO. So me and my dad got kicked out of the house for a couple of hours so that mum could spend time with the grandkids and my wife. They had fun, well the kids did thats for sure.

So me and my dad wondered down to the orchard. The weather was warm, with a little chance of rain, but an ideal day. I took my bee smock, my smoker and my hive tool. I visited the hive and the bees were busy. The top super seems very heavy and I already have some sealed honey. In the bottom super its busy and very wet. The bees are putting green honey into the super and are processing it. I even came away with a large ball of bee's wax.

I have checked the brood chamber and I can see thousands of eggs and larvae. Its beautiful. Though I still cannot find the queen I can see the eggs and the brood and from that I know she is working hard, and I see no negative signs at present.

Me and my dad also wondered around the trees and marvelled at the blossom. It was a rewarding sight to me personally. To others they may just see the flowers and think nothing of it. To me its a sign that the trees have come through another winter and survived. They are almost showing me and the rest of the world; come look at me and see how good I look, and linger at the perfume I elude. All the pretty flowers and the smells of some of the blossom, mainly the plum and apple is delicious. Though the apple blossom is limited at present, however the plums have a great scent.

My dad was pleased, he likes seeing the flowers and is proud of what we have done in the past couple of years.

All in all a good afternoon. I did get stung twice though, one on the right ring finger while in the hive and a second sting on my head a while later. I was out of the bee smock and packing up.

The pictures show Pear blossom, Plum Blossom, Apple blossom and Almond blossom in that order. The Almond Blossom will be gone soon. The apple blossom is still limited. I really like the smell of apple blossom and the next few weeks are going be great.

I am hoping that people get the chance to see and smell the orchard over the next few weeks, so if you get a chance come down.

I will have to start cutting the grass down soon.