Well, I have had better days that’s for sure.
I couldn’t wait any longer so as the sun was shining I decided to have a look although the breeze was chilly. I will cut to the chase as I will be back with an update as soon as.
Green WBC – Plenty of stores and plenty of Bees. There was also a sign of Brood but I didn’t go beyond the 4th frame in as I didn’t want to chill the brood.
Blue National in WBC lifts – Plenty of Bees, all calm food stores, but then the wind picked up so didn’t go further, but noted mould on the floor. However outside the front of the HIve there were about 10 bees with pollen but they hadn’t made it back. a cluster of 3 were sat on the leg of the hive.
White National in WBC lifts – Many a bee inside, again plenty of food but didn’t go beyond, saw traces of mould on the floor as I lifted out 2 frames.
Cream National in WC lifts – OMG diorreah everywhere and dead bees on the crown board. All the frames were mucky and the Bees were clustered to the right handside of the brood box. Dead Bees were on the frames and mould was on the floor, the frames and all over the brood box walls. I positioned my only functioning spare brood box onto a clean floor, transferred the 3 frames with Bees, a clean mould free frame of food and 1 frames of foundation. I then assembled the Hive and left the guards off to allow airflow and removed the contaminated hive and frames.
I await a warmer day and new supplies so that they can be transferred to clean sterile hives in order to give them the best chance and a dousing of Bee Vital.
Hive Tool cleaned after each Hive visit using Cider Vinegar and clean gloves used per inspection and disposed of afterward.
The Garden
I seem to have been digging forever – no gold or treasures found as yet. The border is now set – turf removed and stacked to form a Loam Stack, 2 trailer loads of well rotted farmyard manure dug in, leggy lavender dug up, roses pruned, Mahonia seedlings removed, self seeded Viburnum & trees dug up all ready for the planting. All sorts of marvellous plants (98 actually) are now bedded in.
The job wouldn’t have been a success without the constant help of Teresa, who enjoyed herself grabbing worms,bugs and anything else she could get in her muddy little beak. Dot followed on picking up whatever Teresa had missed while Terence waited for hand picked scraps from me. Teresa became more and more fearless, waiting for the fork to lift so she could get first dibs on the goodies only deterred by Doris’s bullying tactics.
In the process of the big dig I disturbed a hibernating hedgehog, which is I am pleased to report safe and well and is currently dining on freshly sourced snails and catfood! Now the digging is over he shall be released. On the same day I found the hog, our neighbours rescued an abandoned Fox cub, he was revived in front of their Aga and was reported to the RSPCA, who promptly delivered him to Tiggywinkles. We had news this week he had not survived due to liver failure.
As we look toward the woodland there are varying shades of yellow from the Daffodils that dance in the breeze echoing the wild primroses that form a pastel carpet at their feet. Dotted amid the Primroses are Cylla which although tiny wear their purple blue flowers with pride. Leaf buds are forming but not yet bursting and the blossom buds are just waiting for a burst of warmth so they can lure the bees to their heart. Bumble Bees abound desperate for food and seem to bombard you as if you have the answers to their needs. If only I had the key.
The Critters
Teresa has a clutch of 4/5 eggs which she cares for when not foraging for worms and helping me in the garden. Terence is as ever a territorial duck. He proudly chases Pheasants around and out of the garden, all he needs is the Benny Hill theme tune to add to the comedy of it all. Limping Lulu, is happy and well, although she can’t keep up with TnT she does well. Terence pays her attention, which she adores and Teresa stays with her for the napping time, which she seems to appreciate as the garden is very long and steep for a small duck with a gammy leg.
Harold, Dot & Doris are doing well. Harold is giving Doris alot of Spring loving, which shows in her feathers, good job she’s got plenty. Dot is having an easier time this year, much to her relief. Eggs a plenty as a result of the extras from the big dig!
Catch up with you soon, as now I take my aching Glute’s to bed.
