When I got my bees this Spring, I had no plans to take any honey from this hive in the fall. I only started out with 4 bars and the summer drought didn’t offer them a lot of forage. I had to feed them a lot of sugar water ( 1:1) But then the late summer rains came. Chamisa, asters, sunflowers, daisies, salvias and a host of other fall blooming plants provided a real smorgasbord of pollen and nectar. We haven’t had a killing frost yet, so the bees are still busy storing up food for the winter. Each week I open the hive to check on them and give them another half gallon of sugar water. I saw 8 full bars…. the bees had doubled the size of the hive, with three full bars of capped honey. I figured that it would be OK to cut off a small chunk of honeycomb. After I smoked the entrance I opened up the hive and took out one of the full bars. I could tell the bees were a bit agitated from the sound they made, but I brushed them off the comb and they didn’t get angry. With a sharp knife, I cut off one corner and put the bar back in the hive. And that was that! It was golden and delicious! They will have plenty left to feed on to get them through the winter, and I hope they will be strong and healthy next Spring. Success!
Selecting the comb with the most capped honey
Brushing off the bees
Cutting off a piece of the comb
Fresh honey!
Hi Master Gardner! Congrats on the first honey harvest!! I was surprised at how unobtrusive they were when we walked in the gardens – no need to be fearful of swarming stingers
Their docile behavior has been one of the best lessons I have learned. It’s important to just relax and work slowly and deliberately around them. That way they don’t think of you as a predator….
How very neat! So glad you had such a lovely late summer and early fall. Pictures are wonderful.
WOW! Those are busy bees! That nature stuff is so cool! and sweet!
Leslie
Sweets for the Sweet!
Fran
Your photos make it look even sweeter. Thanks!