Sunday 28 April 2013

All about the bees!!!!

So I'm sure you were all wondering how long I could keep quiet about the bees...well I guess that stops here!!

First of all the bad news...there is no way I am going to be able to get my bees this year. To have a colony settled enough with enough stores to survive the winter I need to be getting them now and to be honest that isn't going to happen...below is the reason why.

the bee plot
So above is the land I have taken on in which to keep my beehives. Doesn't it look pretty??


As you can see it is a bit of a mess. It hasn't had anything done with it in at least 10 years and the hugely uneven ground is a serious broken ankle waiting to happen!!

Only way to get weeds out is to dig with a garden fork!!
As you can see I have made a start.


So as you can see I have made a start on the land but it is slow going. Although I did borrow a rotavator to break it up a bit I am going for the olf fashioned digging out the rubbish with a fork...back breaking but satisfying!!

About half of the rubbish that has been dug out so far.
Just a Little of the rubbish!!
So above is about a quarter of the roots which I have so far dug out of the ground..that of course is without the bed-springs, bed posts, car-fenders and broken bottles/glass and cans I have dug up too which of course have ben taken to the local tip. I really wonder sometimes what people thought allotments were for!!

Anyway I'm going a little off topic. So yes, as you can see there is a lot to do so no chance of colonies this year, but in hindsight maybe thats not a bad thing as it means I have more time to get things how I really want them. I did buy some climbing roses last week along with a pyrocanthos and two buddleias which I have already planted along the hedgerow and also I got some pretty flowering shrubs and two black-currantants all of which I have planted this weekend. I have decided to tackle the bee plot in sections over the coming season so as not to get overwhelmed with the enormity of the project. As time goes by and more things happen with the land I will update you but I won't bore you with the constant digging stories!

As well as preparing the land you all know I have been attending my bee course. So far I have done 4 of the 10 sessions but I think I will tell you all about them in another post!!!

Hope you've all had a great weekend...nice long weekend for me next week with the bank holiday so fingers crossed for decent weather!!
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16 comments:

  1. It's better to not rush it Tanya...that way you can focus on getting the bees sorted rather than bees and land at the same time. They probably wouldn't take kindly to rotovator action near their hive anyway!

    Have fun in the rest of your bee course :)

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    1. It is better Tanya but it seems to be taking such a long time for my bees to become a part of the plot. Maybe if the decision had been granted earlier by the allotment committee I would be a lot farther on by now and have the bees in.

      But on the other hand it does mean what I plant now is going to have a good year to develop to produce lovely food for the bee when I do get them.

      As for the Rotavator..I wouldn't have used it near to the hives at all.

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  2. I think now you'll have time to get things exactly right for the bees next time.

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    1. This is true Ratty, lots more time to get things just right!

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  3. Well now! That is going to be quite a lovely space once you're through with it...oh I'm so excited to see the bee colony once you get it all set up. That sounds like an exciting venture, Tanya, and I wish you all the best with it! ^_^

    Thank you for stopping by and commenting...I am so happy you enjoyed the song..I've been into a lot Jeff Buckley's music lately...Have you ever heard his rendition of "hallelujah"? It is so moving.

    Anyway, I hope you are having a beautiful Sunday...and a joyous new week to come!

    xoxo,
    Tammy<3

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    1. Thanks Tammy, excited, nervous, apprehensive are all feelings I am having about the bees but you are right about the space...by the time I have finished it is going to be a little nature reserve set on the allotments!!

      I will check out Jeff Buckley's rendition of 'Hallelujah', it is a song I love. x

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  4. Dear Tanya, It looks so beautiful where you are. Everything looks so green and nice.
    You are working hard and I am sure you will have everything cleaned up in know time.
    I hope all is going well with your courses and that you enjoy it.
    I hope the weather is nice for your long weekend next week.
    Blessings dear. Catherine xo

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    1. I do really like the area in which I live in and spring (now it's finally arrived!) is such a wonderful and vibrant month for us.

      I am loving my bee course and will be telling you all more about it soon. x

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  5. Are you buying single roses more like dog roses as I would imagine that the bees would prefer those to the traditional multi petalled varieties.

    By the way don't miss your chance to win the fire pit!

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    1. These ones I got were just climbing roses Sue but I know what you mean about the dog roses. I will be hopefully getting some of these in the near future along with many more wild plants/flowers.

      Will be writing a fire pit post this week!!

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  6. There's no point in rushing these things. By next year, you'll have the plot cleared and how you want it, and then you can devote your time to the bees.

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    1. This is true Jo....but it seems such a long time ago since I decided I would like to keep bees that I am getting a little impatient!!

      Guess I will just have to devote that impatience into creating the perfect bee haven!

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  7. A good place to have an allotment - great views that you can
    look at in between the hard work of preparing the ground. All the best with the bee course!

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    1. It is wonderful to have the allotments where they are...of course if you turn 180 degrees then you can see some houses...but I don't mind that as mine is just there and living so close to the allotments is a god send!!

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  8. even though it may be disappointing that you can't start with the bees this year just think of how better prepared you will be for next year.

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    1. I agree Ann. It has given me time to step back and really think about what I want to achieve with the space.

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keep it clean...keep it relevant...I look forward to reading your comments!!