Trevor Gillbanks 6224 Posted November 30 The last month of the year has arrived. Where did the year go to? I hope everyone's hives are great condition for the honey season. All the very best wishes for the season of the Big Red Fella. Have a happy and Blessed Christmas and a Great New Year. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M4tt 4833 Posted November 30 What I’m seeing at the moment is shiny bees. Not many , but more than I’d like to and in more hives than I’d like to. I had shiny bees by the bucket full, heading into winter , which was not good, but they seem to have made a reappearance . I have not seen any for months 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 858 Posted November 30 6 hours ago, Trevor Gillbanks said: The last month of the year has arrived. Where did the year go to? I hope everyone's hives are great condition for the honey season. All the very best wishes for the season of the Big Red Fella. Have a happy and Blessed Christmas and a Great New Year. Bees are healthy but weather is s--t 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2585 Posted November 30 3 minutes ago, Bighands said: Bees are healthy but weather is s--t We are just a bit north of endless sh-t. But we will be getting some next week . A shame because there is such a lot happening in the bush . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 858 Posted November 30 3 minutes ago, kaihoka said: We are just a bit north of endless sh-t. But we will be getting some next week . A shame because there is such a lot happening in the bush . A normal spring,a little sick of the wet weather. One good thing is selection of bees that can mate in this weather will stay 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 3348 Posted December 1 1 hour ago, Bighands said: Bees are healthy but weather is s--t Manukas budding☹️ 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BJC 76 Posted December 1 Hot and dry here we could desperately do with some of your rain from down south. 29 degrees on the Eastern Verandah this afternoon with the promise of more hot weather to come, no rain forecast for the next ten days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2585 Posted December 1 3 hours ago, BJC said: Hot and dry here we could desperately do with some of your rain from down south. 29 degrees on the Eastern Verandah this afternoon with the promise of more hot weather to come, no rain forecast for the next ten days. How much rain you want ? you can have most of whats coming to us this week . LOL. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BJC 76 Posted December 1 9 minutes ago, kaihoka said: How much rain you want ? you can have most of whats coming to us this week . LOL. Happy to take the lot but I might regret that when I visit Westport on Tuesday that is if I dont get blown out of the sky with the expected winds 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gwenyn Gwesty 39 Posted December 1 Please, send the rain this way... at the top end of the fabulous Bay of Plenty we have had zilch rain. Today... can't see the Kaimai's... can't see Katikati.... The Mount... gone, but here in the lonely top of the bay, nothing but sunshine, glorious sunshine and wilting veges... though the Pohutukawas' are loving it! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maru Hoani 328 Posted December 1 8 hours ago, jamesc said: Manukas budding☹️ Our Manuka is just ended, almost all the flowers have fallen off, so far we are 2 weeks earlier than last season. The best one I've seen was when the flowers ended after cristmas 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2585 Posted December 1 18 minutes ago, Maru Hoani said: Our Manuka is just ended, almost all the flowers have fallen off, so far we are 2 weeks earlier than last season. The best one I've seen was when the flowers ended after cristmas I saw manukas today on our place today covered in buds . Not active though so not worth more than bush honey . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gino de Graaf 668 Posted December 1 7 hours ago, Gwenyn Gwesty said: Please, send the rain this way... at the top end of the fabulous Bay of Plenty we have had zilch rain. Today... can't see the Kaimai's... can't see Katikati.... The Mount... gone, but here in the lonely top of the bay, nothing but sunshine, glorious sunshine and wilting veges... though the Pohutukawas' are loving it! We got a bit of rain last night, up in the hills. Not enough. Are you down near the water? Well,a few more early morning drives and all the ladies and few men are in their summer locations. My shifting started early October, ending this week. Then box up. Still green but too dry. Need substantial rain to flush up, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gwenyn Gwesty 39 Posted December 1 50 minutes ago, Gino de Graaf said: We got a bit of rain last night, up in the hills. Not enough. Are you down near the water? Athenree, near Waihi Beach. Dry as a bone... Today's dribble looks like it'll pass us by. Now that we are on water meters the veges are getting expensive! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 3348 Posted December 1 36 minutes ago, Gwenyn Gwesty said: Athenree, near Waihi Beach. Dry as a bone... Today's dribble looks like it'll pass us by. Now that we are on water meters the veges are getting expensive! And the Pumpkin ...? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gwenyn Gwesty 39 Posted December 1 41 minutes ago, jamesc said: And the Pumpkin ...? I was going to ask you the same thing! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gino de Graaf 668 Posted December 1 This is a dry spot. Cows been recently. Got potential, if it gets soaked. Some years we can be toasted and produce. Others years, like last, green but slow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CHCHPaul 330 Posted December 2 It has been a great spring where I am this season. Plenty of rain and plenty of sunshine. Bees are loving it. last December rained constantly and ruined the flow. Hopefully not this year! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 858 Posted December 2 3 minutes ago, CHCHPaul said: It has been a great spring where I am this season. Plenty of rain and plenty of sunshine. Bees are loving it. last December rained constantly and ruined the flow. Hopefully not this year! Has not stopped raining here. . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nikki watts 653 Posted December 2 We’re getting daily rain and showers now . just as the Manuka is flowering ..... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 858 Posted December 2 2 minutes ago, nikki watts said: We’re getting daily rain and showers now . just as the Manuka is flowering ..... Is that normal? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2585 Posted December 2 (edited) 52 minutes ago, Bighands said: Has not stopped raining here. . I spent 6 months in tropical aussie winter . Rained one day . Fantastic !!! Its raining here now too . Edited December 2 by kaihoka Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 3348 Posted December 2 11 hours ago, Gino de Graaf said: This is a dry spot. Cows been recently. Got potential, if it gets soaked. Some years we can be toasted and produce. Others years, like last, green but slow Makes great smoker fuel ..... really. Honeys flowing here ..... big time in this warm and sultry weather . Should be finished splitting by the end of the week ...... oh well, who needs more worthless honey, at least the bees are up and running !! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mischief 116 Posted December 2 On 1/12/2019 at 12:13 PM, M4tt said: What I’m seeing at the moment is shiny bees. Not many , but more than I’d like to and in more hives than I’d like to. I had shiny bees by the bucket full, heading into winter , which was not good, but they seem to have made a reappearance . I have not seen any for months Are you sure they havent just been foraging on salvias. I have a number of plants and was a bit worried at seeing shiney bees til I watched them push their way into the flower. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 3348 Posted December 2 The tomatoes are doin better than the pumpkins. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites