Budding Cottage


Our quiet corner of the world

Archive for the 'General' Category

Of lawnmowers and ratchet straps 17 May 2011

On Sunday we introduced the hives to the concept of lawn mowing with some trepidation.  My reading had led me to caution and an understanding that the bees might object to a large petrol driven object being pushed around by a larger food fuelled and sweating object. (Clearly size is from a bee’s perspective, Mr […]

May 17th, 2011
Topic: General Tags: None

Swarm box

As a swarm box, a good sized cardboard box works well.  Here is my box that seems to have captured a feline.

May 11th, 2011
Topic: General Tags: None

Our Masonry bees April 2011

May 10th, 2011
Topic: General Tags: None

Beginners sessions Malvern and Upton Branch April & May 2011

In April (28th) the beginners sessions began at the Hanley castle apiary.  It was great to see into some hives and talk through what we found.  I immediately realised that I needed to review my frame constructions and went back through my empty hives to add additional nails to the lugs of the frames that […]

May 10th, 2011
Topic: General Tags: None

Beginners courses Herefordshire

I highly recommend the beginners course run by Herefordshire beekeepers association.  This year it ran over 4 evening sessions between March and April  We covered: Bee biology and life from the bee perspective The bee and the beekepers’ year Swarming Disease Honey It was also great to meet other beginners and learners and to be […]

May 10th, 2011
Topic: General Tags: None

Useful books

Guide to bees and honey by Ted Hooper A practical manual of beekeeping by David Cramp Honey nature’s golden healer by Gloria Havenhand Starting with bees by Peter Gordon A colour guide to pollen loads of the honey bee by William Kirk  

May 10th, 2011
Topic: Bees, General Tags: None

Weather early May 2011

Well, the bees have had some fantastic sunshine to start them off in their new homes.  But at the same time there have been some heavy thundery showers around too in early May.  In addition the temperature forecasts indicate averages around 16-17 degrees, though it does feel warmer in the sunshine.  I am hoping this […]

May 10th, 2011
Topic: Bees, Weather for bees Tags: None

Hello world!

Bee blog In 2010 we started to think about getting bees to add to the Budding Cottage menagerie…

December 22nd, 2010
Topic: General Tags: None