2021 Season.

Sadly, the strong flow we had is at an end. Pity about the blackberry in your neck of the woods - it's by far the most important honey crop around here - bigger than all others combined. The trouble with taking the bees on holiday is (as you know) the weather. You can never tell what the weather is going to be like when you move them. Still, you could be fairly sure of a week or so in July - which is the main blackberry season. Last year, the blossoms sat unpollinated on the brambles for weeks on end. This year, they were all pollinated in the space of a fortnight. I imagine there will be a huge blackberry crop this year.

I was delighted today to see another heavy flow started. Mainly Blackberry again! This is a different variety of Blackberry (there are many different varieties) with pink flowers as opposed to the white-blossomed variety which drove the previous flow. There is also a fair bit of Purple Loosestrife, Blackhead Knapweed, Meadowsweet and Ragwort all in full bloom; everything helps!

There was a strong flow here yesterday for an hour or two. We have a bit of Loosestrife, Meadowsweet, and of course Ragwort about so like you say "Everything Helps". I am in the process of ordering a new extractor from the UK so, just a bit optimistic I am. The queenless colony that I put in a frame of eggs and young brood is now showing some signs of vigour so fingers crossed for them. Good luck.

I did the same with 2 queenless nucs - checking today to see the result. What kind of extractor are you getting Cristy?

Its just a basic hand cranked four frame radial. My old one ,which was an antique did not like being put into storage for many years and suffered too much rust. It was originally plated steel but the plate had long since gone by the time I was given it. Its a shame as it had an ornate cast iron handle and raven clawed feet that gave it a right rustic appearance. The new modern stainless steel yoke with its nylon gears etc just does not have the same appeal. The upside is that I am going over to the daughter's fiftieth birthday, so buying it from the UK saves me 150 euros. So not all bad.

And now the WASPS!!! I luv watching them squirm around in the traps. HE HE HE.

Still working the Heather - hopefully for another week!

Just a few fits and starts here now. I did extract a fair bit of honey from one colony which I am grateful for of course. There is another super on the other colony to be got but I have been getting some inquiries for Ivy honey. Apparently, it's got some medicinal qualities or so I am told. We do get a decent quantity of Ivy flow in a good year. So I may well leave the full super for the girls and put on a fresh super for some Ivy honey. Sean. What do you think?

Cristy, regarding ivy honey: after taking off the Heather honey, I clap on an empty super which they usually fill with ivy. I leave that in place till around March as a safeguard against hunger. Then, if the hives are still heavy, I rob that. It will be cystallised, so you have to melt it carefully and separate it from the wax. Last April I bottled it in 140g jars and got 10 euros a jar for it. Don't like it myself, but some people are mad for it.

Well, I took off the remaining honey today - a fair bit of late BlackBerry and some Ling. The crop worked out on average around 40lbs per hive, which isn't great but not a total disaster and better than last year. Each hive now has a full brood chamber, topped by a full super of honey and an empty super for them to fill with ivy. Extracting and bottling next!

Is the Ivy flow early this year? My girls have been working hard these last three days. Looking around some Ivy has started flowering. I dont know what they are working on but it yields large amounts of bright yellow pollen. I have some harvest to extract this weekend and intend to put on extra suppers for the Ivy flow. I cant detect the Ivy smell yet so maby they are not working it yet. Honey is selling well at the mart. 8 euros a pound.

That bright yellow pollen is probably from ragwort. It yields a strong flavoured honey, kind of rank-tasting when pure, but ok when blended in with mild honey like clover. The ivy is early this year - I saw (and smelled) some in blossom today; might be a bumper crop!

Well, we have had one week of hard, frantic Ivy flow. The girls are working harder than at any other time this year. There does not seem to be much nighttime rest for them either, judging by the loud humming noise coming from the hives. Fingers crossed we may get some surplus.

Yep, same here Cristy. Ivy honey flowing in from dawn till dusk. Every ivy bush covered in bees, butterflies, flies and hoverflies. Never seen such an early and heavy ivy flow. If only the weather continues fine, they'll stock up well for the winter and maybe fill a super for the beekeeper!

Still working here, both day and night with fanning going on into the early hours. They may need more space so I will check them out this week. This is the most I have seen them work all year.

Checked out my two hives yesterday and they are brimming full of stores. The girls are still bringing in so I won't take any surplus yet. Most has crystallized so I shall treat the same as I would rape. That is in the oven heated to below 60deg. I could have as much as sixty pounds. If this is the main honey flow in my area then I am grateful for it

What do you do with it after melting in the oven Cristy?

Hi Sean. You need a big pan. Line the sides with foil to the bottom. It makes cleaning easier. Once the the wax is completely melted let the pan cool overnight. Make sure you don't over heat as this will alter the honey and it will end up like Tesco's. When it is cool remove the hard wax and. Propolic from the surface of the honey beneath. It will stay runny for a day or two. The foil is used to keep the wax off the pan which can be a problem cleaning.

Sounds like a good plan. I scrape mine into a bucket and stand the bucket in a big tub of warm water till the honey melts but not the wax. Then put it through a fine muslin cloth which keeps back the wax.

I took a super full of Ivy honey last week which I am happy with. We have a couple of "New age" stalls at the mart and they are both eager to buy it along with the wax and propolis. The hives have plenty of winter stores and are strong so fingers crossed. So now planning for next year.