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Site updated Wednesday, February 1, 2012— Revision235
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Copyright 2011 Dartford Beekeepers
Dartford Beekeepers are a branch of the Kent Beekeepers Association
Registered Charity—222946
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Chairman's Chat
Dear Friends
The present climate makes it difficult to offer advice regarding the action we should presently be taking in regard to our bees. My advice normally would be leave well alone until we have a warm day in March when we can clean the floorboard.
However, they have been flying quite a lot during the past two months and in some cases have been returning to the hive with pollen, this normally indicates that the queen is in lay, which of course increases demand for food. In these circumstances it would be advisable to take a quick look when the bees are flying well this month to check on the food situation. Don’t feed unless they are very low in supplies as this will certainly encourage the queen to commence raising brood and it will then be necessary to continue with feeding until the colony becomes self sufficient.
There has been a lot of interest in the BBC’s recent reference of the training of bees to detect various odours in the environment; sniffing out explosives and land mines, identifying diseases and cancers in people and animals, detecting rapidly spreading bacteria in food, and identifying dry rot in buildings. Amazing information about our bees continues to be discovered. How lucky we are to have such creatures, and how essential to maintain their existence.
February is usually a time for relaxing from our beekeeping activities. Equipment will have been checked and prepared for the next season. Can I therefore ask you to have a look at your garden, not mine, it needs much attention. This month provides an opportunity to plant blossoming trees and shrubs, which will meet the needs, not only of your own bees, but those of solitary and bumble bees.
You may wish to consider some shrubs such as Mahonia, Lonicera (Shrubby Honeysuckle), Fragrantissima or Daphne Mezerecum which are early spring flowering., So are catkin bearing trees but you couldn’t plant these in time for this year. You may also like to consider planting flowers like crocuses, snowdrops, or primroses.
For later you could choose Aubretia, Wallflowers, Candytuft, Muscari, (Grape Hyacinth) or Scillas
Also in the summer and autumn, there is a wide choice such as, Lavender, Scabious, Teasels, Globe thistles, Sedums, Foxgloves, and Michaelmas daisies.
Thyme, sage, chives and, rosemary are popular herbs and cotoneaster and berberis are well visited and these provide winter food for birds.
Plant your flowers in clumps rather than spaced out as they will be more attractive to the visitors.
Till next month, enjoy your browsing.
William