Apiary Report

Apiary Report - September 2022 Meeting

Apiary Report - August 2022 Meeting

Apiary Report - July 2022 Meeting

Apiary Report - June 2022 Meeting

Apiary Report - May 2022 Meeting

Hands-on bee training in club apiary this morning. Nice turnout…all hives inspected. Mite counts performed using powder sugar shake and alcohol wash. Saturday, April 30, 2022

Hands-On Field Day in BASF Alva Apiary. Our Vice President Marc demonstrated frame reading/evaluation plus performed both a sugar shake and alcohol wash for mite check (levels were low 1 or 2 per 100). Dennis marked corners of covers with paint to indicate which had queens observed, etc... and Marc kept notes and sent out spreadsheet results of todays event. Marc encouraged and allowed 3 or 4 members to go through hives on their own with some verbal instruction and/or assistance/reminders. Saturday 30, 2022

Hands-On Field Day in BASF Alva Apiary. Member Elaine Sarlo's turn at inspecting our Club bees. Saturday 30, 2022

Hands-On Field Day in BASF Alva Apiary. Member Brianne DeNunzio took her turn at inspecting our Club bees while Mark Terrell and other members observed. Saturday 30, 2022

Hands-On Field Day in BASF Alva Apiary. Member Elaine taking close-up look at frames for larvae, eggs, the queen, etc. Saturday 30, 2022

Hands-On Field Day in BASF Alva Apiary. Member Jennafer Snyder took her turn at inspecting our Club bees... carefully looking for queen and/or evidence of the queen (eggs, larvae, etc.). Saturday 30, 2022

Hands-On Field Day in BASF Alva Apiary. Yellow marked queens (from Bonnies Bees) were observed on many of the colonies... still with some paint left. Other colonies will be revisited in a couple of weeks to take additional look for any concerns noted by Marc. Saturday 30, 2022

Apiary Report - April 2022 Meeting

Apiary Report - March 2022 Meeting

Apiary Report - February 2022 Meeting

Apiary Report: - by VP Marc Brennan Purchased 10 of Martha Carpenter Mite Mauler Queens from Bonnies Bees in Sebring (approved to spend $30 each queen at January meeting). Marc split our 5 hives into 5-frame nucs and left queenless for about 3 days. After the 3-day wait the 10 nucs each had their marked "yellow paint" caged queens installed. 10 nucs were moved from LaBelle to our new cooling down place in Alva where they will be left for about another 6 weeks and checked to see how many have the marked queens and have changed to the more calm temperament. Then plans will be made to move to their final destination in our new club apiary in Alva. Possibly, ultimately we may end up with some extra splits which we can get into hands of club members (for a price) or loaned (adopt-a-hive) to some members in good standing which have had recent hardships with their bees or to loan to see if a member with no bees can handle beekeeping... a test or trial, then the club could move hive to another needy member... or sell off. Dennis has went through all the woodenware (hive bodies etc.) and salvaged only the best and set aside that which either needs to be repaired or scrapped (discarded/repurposed). We will be purchasing new and/or additional woodenware and apiary items (approved to spend up to $300 at January meeting). Need to paint, repair, stencil, brand what we have in inventory. Deck box and five 10-frame Langstroth hives are now sitting on stand in new apiary... awaiting the arrival of the calm bees in 6 weeks. Some carpet weed-block is in place and all is looking nice. Member Jennafer S. is brainstorming these ideas with Marc, Dennis and eventually to the club for consideration.