Using pictures to examine hives

As we moved quickly through a hive we took pictures to examine later. Look at the mites on the bee in the circle.

FIREWEED

This nearby patch of fireweed has added some nice flavor to the honey.

Mustard – late forage for honeybees

Mustard planted in mid-August will bloom mid-September. The bees love it!

It is quite frost resistant and bees can be seen visiting Mustard on a warm day in November.

Photo taken October 5th.

Ivy pollen in November

Photo taken November 13, 2022

Late blooming Ivy

Ivy will eventually bloom if it grows vertically. Here is a picture with the blossoms about to open. In a few days it will be covered with foraging insects.

Persicaria honey?

In August we were extracting honey similar to the amber honey in the middle picture. This is typical amber Buckwheat honey with a rose tinge. One hive, however, produced a super of golden honey as shown in the left jar. In scouting the area for a possible source this is what we found in the Katzie slough. This golden honey was distinctive in its density. The plant is Persicaria.

Persicaria humming with bees in a Pitt meadows slough.

After mid-September all of the colonies used Persicaria as the cultivar of choice as shown in the picture on the right. Looking back the heavy density of the Persicaria is evident in all of the honeys from August onward. Thanks to the one hive that decided to do something different.

Aralia Elata

We have been waiting years for blossoms on our Aralia Elata. The wait was worth it!

Aralia elata – Honeybee Heaven for the Summer Garden – Bing video

First hazelnut foraging in 2020

Hummingbirds face freezing temperatures

Culver’s Root

Flowers open gradually along a long stem. Bees have been enjoying this plant for two weeks now and there is still flowers to open. What a great bee plant for midsummer.