The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Bees & Beekeeping => Topic started by: cloddopper on November 15, 2014, 06:00:57 pm

Title: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: cloddopper on November 15, 2014, 06:00:57 pm
Starting to tidy up the veg & flower beds today I was surprised to see four honeybees at work on the fuschia's
 
We have several specimen fuchsia in the gardens that are still in strong flower.

The bees were also active on the snapdragons that were sown in July for planting out in spring 2015 , most have a fair show of flowers on them ,surely that's cheating .

Plenty of other flowers are still in good bloom , the pompom dahlia's look fantastic & are also still attracting lots of all types of  bees.
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Sudanpan on November 15, 2014, 07:59:14 pm
Yep our bees have been similarly active up to date as well. Not too sure what that is going to mean by the time they do hunker down for winter, given that all the flying may mean early dipping into of stores.
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Greenerlife on November 15, 2014, 08:06:05 pm
Yep -down here too.  Spent most of the day moving my hens to a new patch of grass, and noticed my bees flying all day.  Amazing.
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Louise Gaunt on November 15, 2014, 08:35:43 pm
Every sunny day recently the ivy outside our house has been covered in bees and flies all over the flowers. Not that we have had much sun recently , our hen run is very soggy!
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Bionic on November 16, 2014, 11:29:15 am
I was surprised to see ours out and about yesterday too :bee: :bee: :bee: :bee: :bee:
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Fleecewife on November 16, 2014, 11:59:08 am
Every sunny day recently the ivy outside our house has been covered in bees and flies all over the flowers. Not that we have had much sun recently , our hen run is very soggy!


Our ivy has been busy too.  No bees now though.
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: cloddopper on November 17, 2014, 04:45:46 pm
Yep our bees have been similarly active up to date as well. Not too sure what that is going to mean by the time they do hunker down for winter, given that all the flying may mean early dipping into of stores.

 At least they will be able to harvest the IVY pollen as well as any nectars , might be worth a look into the hives to see if you can feed a strong syrup with thymol or an anti fungicide.
Thymol helps prevent mould & varroa  ..... evidently , though I'm not sure about that . .
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Rosemary on November 17, 2014, 07:15:40 pm
Our ivy was moving with bees yesterday. Not so many today  :raining:
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: cloddopper on November 29, 2014, 05:27:02 pm
There were dozens & dozens of bees visiting our hanging baskets and geraniums this afternoon. It seems really odd having so many out in the late afternoon almost into December.
 At least it means there is either a feral nest or a hive somewhere fairly local.
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Bionic on November 30, 2014, 09:45:22 am
Our hives were really busy yesterday. Never seen anything like it at this time of year
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: VEG on November 30, 2014, 11:00:32 pm
lets just hope it does them no harm as they should be tucked up for the winter :fc:
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Rosemary on December 01, 2014, 09:18:34 am
Our hives were really busy yesterday. Never seen anything like it at this time of year

Yep, ours were flying yesterday in the sun. Won't be flying today I guess  :)
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: Bionic on December 01, 2014, 10:05:39 am
These were ours on 29th Nov
Title: Re: Bees still flying on 15 Nov 2014 ?
Post by: cloddopper on December 02, 2014, 03:01:53 pm
They look good Bionic.

 Even today at 2 Dec 2014  15.00 hrs there are still plenty of honey bees visiting the flowers in the hanging baskets & flower beds.