Posted in Bee to Flower relationship, Bee Video, Bee-loving flowers, Music video, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, tagged bee-loving flowers, bees and poppies, bees on Oregon Coast, macro nature video, natural beekeeping, pollinators, poppy pollination, Sanyo Xacti, Wild pollinators on June 20, 2015| 6 Comments »
A frame from the video shows the bee covered with purple pollen.
This bee fell from the poppy which was wet from the sprinkler. I spotted it here before it took off.
June 19…Unidentified street performers provide the perfect background music for the bee gathering poppy pollen video.
Posted in Natural Beekeeping, Steinkraus-Morse Swarm Catcher, Swarms, Videos, tagged Capturing a swarm, Home made bee vac, honey bees, natural beekeeping, Steinkraus-Morse Swarm catcher on June 18, 2015| 6 Comments »
Big Swarm in Escallonia hedge.
Another look at the swarm after removing some branches.
Using a stick of bamboo, I positioned the Steinkraus-Morse Swarm Catcher as close as I could. Steve slowly lifted the branch and yanked it down hard. Most of the bees fell into the sack, some missed and landed on the white sheet below.
That sack was heavy, heavier than any other swarm I’ve ever caught. I had to be careful not to crush any bees when I flipped it over into the bucket.
First bucket is full.
After another catch in the sack, this second bucket was full. The rest of the bees were clinging to the branch, so I tried out my homemade bee vac for the first time…
…which I recently built using a vacuum made for a 5 gallon bucket lid. I used a dimmer switch (as seen to the right of the bucket) so I could adjust the suction to avoid harming the bees. I’m happy to report that no dead bees were found. The dimmer switch worked perfectly. Plans were found at beesource.com .
Judging from the bees gathered on the outside of this bucket, I think it’s safe to say, the queen is within.
Big Swarm has a new home.
June 18, 2015…Steve writes, “Just an update, “girls” doing well. Happy pollinators week!
The above swarm worked out well, but it was only after we abandoned our efforts to try to bag the swarm below.
This was a ‘pancake’ swarm,’ lying on the ground in front of a recently occupied Warre hive.
Are they going in? It looks like it…but they decided against it.
I replaced the bait hive with Steve’s Langstroth hive, then tried sweeping them into a dust pan and dropping it into the Lang…not so fast, they break for the Warre hive.
I figured, “okay, they made their choice,” but a couple of hours later, I found them going back to the Lang.
…eventually grouping up on the SIDE of the hive.
Since the swarm had been without water or sustenance for a few days, I provided some sugar water to try to entice them into the Lang. They would have to go into the hive to access the sugar water. That ought to work…it didn’t.
A day later, the bees moved over here about 5 feet away. I set up some moss water…
…and an inverted swarm catcher. I called Steve saying I didn’t think he would want this little swarm. It’s possible that it’s a cast swarm with a virgin queen that can’t fly.
Four days later we get the swarm call for the one in the escallonia hedge. We both agree we’re glad we waited.
Posted in Bee Video, Bee-loving flowers, Gardening, Macro bee video, Natural Beekeeping, tagged Black Cumin Flower and bee, Eugene Bike Trails, Friendly St. Eugene-OR, Friendly Street Park, front yard gardens, Sam Bonds Brewing on June 16, 2015| 10 Comments »
Where else would you see a sign like this?
Long Live the Bees! My daughter sent me this photo as seen on one of her walks in the “Friendly Street” neighborhood. When I visited Eugene, I made an effort to find out the story of the sign.
The kids who live here attend the school where Jen Hornaday has donated a bee hive as a school project. In learning about bees, the kids have found out about their importance in nature, importance to our food supply, and how important it is to grow gardens in a poison-free environment.
Hence the sign.
Friendly Street, Eugene, Oregon.
In walking through the Friendly Street neighborhood, I noticed quite a few gardens in front yards.
This is Scott’s garden. I was particularly impressed by his ambitious poles for pole beans. I wonder how he will pick the beans at the top.
Scott pointed out another of his creations entitled “Coyote eating garden gnome,” sculpted during a wild creative evening of gin.
The blue flowers are Black Cumin. Black Cumin seeds are some of the most revered medicinal seeds in history. Photo Credit to Crow Feather Farm, Eugene, OR.
I wanted to ask the owner about the solar panels array, but I was taken by all the flowers and time was short. Photo credit to Crow Feather Farm, Eugene, OR.
I need a sign like this. Photo credit to Crow Feather Farm, Eugene, OR.
George explained while this is his garden, he shares space with the kids down the street who tend the squash.
Carmella’s corner lot garden.
This one year old is intent on one thing only…getting the sweetness out of the strawberry.
This is Jim’s front yard. He apologized for the fence, but he says it keeps the deer out. I can relate.
Where does the Friendly Street go? To the Friendly Park, of course, which is how I discovered this lovely neighborhood when my daughter walked us to it.
Playing at the park…You might just see the resemblance on “The Grand Kids Log Hive.”
Other reasons to like Eugene…
…Beyond Toxics is located in Eugene. Beyond Toxics works to guarantee environmental protections and health for all communities and residents;
Sam Bonds Brewery, just celebrated the first anniversary of the Tasting Room Opening;
Eugene Bike trails are quite extensive; and it’s a great place to live.
Posted in Bee to Flower relationship, Bee Video, Bee-loving flowers, Gardening, Hives, Natural Beekeeping, tagged Bee Garden, Birdhouse bees, California poppies, natural beekeeping, Salvia on June 1, 2015| 5 Comments »
May 31…The Bee Garden is shaping up after Sue added her brick work. We like it so much we’re going to add more on the other side.
The photo shows just some of the bee-loving plants we’re growing…some from seed, some from our favorite nursery.
I just noticed these ferns practically overgrowing the little Birdhouse Bee hive.
I successfully trimmed the ferns without getting stung. The bees probably don’t care one way or the other, but it gives me a clear shot with the camera.
Are these drones? It almost looks like it. Drones sometimes mean swarms (before or after)…I’m hoping this is before so I can encourage them into an empty Warre hive with their name on it. 🙂
May 31…The hugelkulture bed needs a little more work for sure. This is a ‘before’ picture. I’d like to make a little path going past the hive and circling back past the sunflowers I just planted (if the slugs don’t eat them first.
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 