Video: Hives Wrapped

Hives Wrapped for Winter October 23
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The video above documents my beekeeping activities last Saturday.

Winterization-- Part II

Yesterday I continued the winterization of Beelandia's hives. It was very difficult to think that cold weather is around the corner with the temperature reaching into the 60s (F) but the pre-winter tasks needed to be done.

I placed hive-wrap material (purchased from B and B Honey Farm) around each hive. The hives were generally cooperative, even though the weather was warm enough for foragers to come and go in significant numbers. As usual, I struggled a bit with the top bar hives. They are just not as easy to wrap as nice Langstroth boxes.

No stings and the task was finished.

Abelisto Speaks at Master Gardener Meeting

I spoke this week at a "Master Gardeners" meeting in Winona on Tuesday. I discussed what gardeners can do for honeybees. We had a very good discussion and, hopefully, I interested some of these gardeners also to raise bees. They are all planning to come to Beelandia in the spring!

"Winterization" Part I

Today I took the first step in preparing my hives for winter. For each hive, I took off the feeder, placed in some fondant and a pollen patty, and put a quilt box on top. The two top bar hives have very little stores, so I simply hope the fondant is used.

In the next week or two I will wrap and insulate each hive.

Article: Honeybees' collapse caused by combination of virus and fungus study reports

Many of you are already aware of this news but I thought I'd provide a link to the Christian Science Monitor's article on this important development anyway. Thank you Chad for providing this link.

Beelandia.com is Online

Monta and I have finally put the finishing touches on a new website named Beelandia.com. This new website will serve as a companion to this blog.

The Beelandia.com contains summaries of the bee projects I am working on, articles and reviews I've written, thoughts on issues and topics of concern to beekeepers, as well as videos and photos from the Beelandia apiary and bee activities in and around Winona Minnesota. Artist, Monta May, designed the site.

I hope you all read and enjoy the site. Please visit it often.