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Western - the Alleghenies. Highland County. Rather far from you.

Jess

Thanks for the advice. I can wait until Spring.

Jess

I am moving and cannot take my bees with me :(.

I have two complete hives, all medium hive bodies (5 per hive), small cell, Italians, with hive top feeders. Hives are painted and only 2 seasons...

We have this type of vetch all over the place (where we do not mow) in Western Va. The bees seems to work it sometimes, but not exclusively, and a various times throughout the day. I see other kinds...

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6/17/07
Vipers Bugloss

Common Vetch
6/13/07

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5/25
Vetch (purple - can't remember if it's common or hairy vetch)

5/28
Black Locust (not everywhere yet)

5/28
Multiflora Rose

You can beekeep while pregnant. You suit just keeps getting smaller.

Stumbled across this on Amazon:

Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches to Modern Apiculture (Paperback)
by Ross Conrad (Author), Gary Paul Nabhan

Will be available in June or July (I think).

The split went well and the girls are raising a few queens. Thanks for the help.

Last year at this time I was still waiting on my packages and watching the apple trees and dandelions bloom...

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Apple trees
strawberries (!)
Dandelions in full bloom

Sqkcrk,

I've never used gloves - I made myself not use them since the beginning and would encourage all newbees to put their's on the shelf. Besides, they just don't make gloves small enough to...

On Sunday I split my hive. There was not alot of open brood - I think because of last week's weather. I put some open brood in each hive because I searched and searched and could not find the queen....

I think the best part about using the frame grip is that it gives me more confidence when lifting the frame and holding it. When I am less worried I am more able to pay attention to what I am doing....

This is my second season with bees, but my first with a pair of frame grips.

I will never go back.

Before I got bees I asked a full-time beekeeper what he recommended as far as those extra...

Dandelions
4/20
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4/3/07

Weeping Willow Trees (2 weeks before last year)

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Thanks for the links - I've read MB's site and its been a great help, however, I think I read once that you have to wait a little while before introducing a new queen to a split so the bees don't...

I want to split my one hive this year to make two but I have some questions.

I would like to put a new queen in the split.

How long do I wait to put in the new queen? Right away? After 24...

Just two cents from a middle school teacher.

First of all, 20 minutes will fly by and you have alot you want to talk about. Take your time and don't be too technical - you'll loose them. Make sure...

Check for some traditional recipes. Baclava (spelling?) is a Mediterranean dessert that takes lots of honey (and is delicious).

Do you plan to wire your foundation? (You don't have to - there are different opinions on this.)

I started last year with (unwired) SC and mediums also. I used starter strips instead of a full...

Thanks for your response, Jim. It make sense. I subscribe to the belief that the bees know more than I do. It will be cold here again. West of the valley is nothing like the rest of VA as far as...

I just checked my bees today and they are alive and well (and stinging, ahem). I only popped the top and the bees were in a top corner.

There is plenty of honey in the top box but I pulled a frame...

Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. A few winter inspection questions:

Do I just pop the top and look in?
Should I break the propolis seal and move all the boxes to clean off the bottom board...

Maverick,

The Hogs Heart were pretty good fresh, but nothing beats the Brandywine or Striped Germans. The Hogs Heart was slow to ripen and ripened unevenly. I also thought they we pretty watery...