kaihoka 2,975 Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 the big northern rata are covered in buds the trees without any or very few buds are southern rata i think southern rata never seems to flower well here 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 1,065 Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Can't tell what is going to happen down here yet. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,975 Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 2 hours ago, Bighands said: Can't tell what is going to happen down here yet. we always start first and flowering moves down the coast Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 4,917 Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 (edited) Not sure we need another big year .... I still got the last big Rata year sitting in the shed Edited November 19, 2020 by jamesc Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,975 Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 9 minutes ago, jamesc said: Not sure we need another big year .... I still got the last big Rata year sitting in the shed I think the pollination guys that move their hives here will be happy about that . They do not have to rely on selling their honey . Last season was a big manuka yr and the hives were full of manuka honey even though the rata flowered . Which was a surprise Link to post Share on other sites
YTB8TA270 62 Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Looking at how heavely buded up/and with some already flowering the Pohutakawa are in Greymouth and Hokitika im hopeful that the Southern Rata may have a good year. Heres hopeing anyway. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
YTB8TA270 62 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 Just sitting back havin a beer and lookin out window above woolshed roof on hillside in bush is a reddish lookin tree. A look through binoculars and its a Southern Rata in full bloom. A look around and across lake is two more bright red trees.. The earliest ive seen in the eight years ive been here. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post NickWallingford 317 Posted November 25, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 25, 2020 On 19/11/2020 at 9:55 PM, jamesc said: Not sure we need another big year .... I still got the last big Rata year sitting in the shed James, I think that rata, a good smoothly granulated rata, is one of the finest honeys in the world. While I might personally think of it as priceless, I do hope you get the price you want... 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 4,917 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 1 hour ago, YTB8TA270 said: Just sitting back havin a beer and lookin out window above woolshed roof on hillside in bush is a reddish lookin tree. A look through binoculars and its a Southern Rata in full bloom. A look around and across lake is two more bright red trees.. The earliest ive seen in the eight years ive been here. Agreed ... we were collapsed having lunch the other day and raised our eyes to the hills ..... indeed , a reddish tinge. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,975 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share Posted November 25, 2020 3 hours ago, YTB8TA270 said: Just sitting back havin a beer and lookin out window above woolshed roof on hillside in bush is a reddish lookin tree. A look through binoculars and its a Southern Rata in full bloom. A look around and across lake is two more bright red trees.. The earliest ive seen in the eight years ive been here. The kanuka is flowering here , that is really early . I think rata will on its normal shedual . Link to post Share on other sites
southbee 62 Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 No rata down here yet, but hoping for a good flowering year... Link to post Share on other sites
YTB8TA270 62 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 The three Rata i could see flowering from my lounge chair four days ago has turned into nine now. The hills goin to be red before xmas. Going to have Rata mixed with Kamahi in me boxes. Something different. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 1,065 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 I see Rata is flowering at Fox River Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,975 Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 2 hours ago, Bighands said: I see Rata is flowering at Fox River The coast south of karamea has missed out on all the rain we have been getting . These days if it rains in the Nrth IS we are in the Nrth Is . If it rains in the Sth Is we are in the Sth Is . Nov heading to be the wettest month since we got our weather station in 2014. Over 300mls . I think it will delay buds rata buds opening . Link to post Share on other sites
frazzledfozzle 7,483 Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 It’s been terrible over the hill too kaihoka just awful with so much rain. we are still feeding to keep hives alive. 5 Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,975 Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 2 hours ago, frazzledfozzle said: It’s been terrible over the hill too kaihoka just awful with so much rain. we are still feeding to keep hives alive. the rain could all end in a week and maybe all the rain will create a good flowering of forage crops later. Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 1,065 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 It is blowing here in the valley.We have had a dry November only 237 mm for the month.Drier than last year but at least we now see the sun for longer and it is sunny today. Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,975 Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 2 hours ago, Bighands said: It is blowing here in the valley.We have had a dry November only 237 mm for the month.Drier than last year but at least we now see the sun for longer and it is sunny today. we had 378mls in nov Link to post Share on other sites
Stoney 1,584 Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 Cripes you two must have webbed feet by now.. righto I’m thinking I need to sort a site or two for my ladies to work from if you all think it will turn red over there.. @Bighands I’m happy to swap sites with you if you’d like to produce some extremely rare and valuable Canterbury Beech Forest Honeydew.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
kaihoka 2,975 Posted December 4, 2020 Author Share Posted December 4, 2020 13 hours ago, Stoney said: Cripes you two must have webbed feet by now.. righto I’m thinking I need to sort a site or two for my ladies to work from if you all think it will turn red over there.. @Bighands I’m happy to swap sites with you if you’d like to produce some extremely rare and valuable Canterbury Beech Forest Honeydew.. the migrant arrived yesterday to get the site on our place ready now he has finished with pollination. his bees have been struggling this spring like lots of beeks in nelson area. this yr some of the big rata are completely covered in buds but i have seen trees with no buds. often you will get a patchy flower on the tree but this yr it seems all or nothing. the manuka and kanuka are early. i will post how it unfolds here on the forum, it will be an indication of how it will be further south. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 4,917 Posted December 4, 2020 Share Posted December 4, 2020 16 hours ago, Stoney said: Cripes you two must have webbed feet by now.. righto I’m thinking I need to sort a site or two for my ladies to work from if you all think it will turn red over there.. @Bighands I’m happy to swap sites with you if you’d like to produce some extremely rare and valuable Canterbury Beech Forest Honeydew.. Hey @Stoney I got some nice rata sites I'd trade for some Manuka ones next year. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites
jamesc 4,917 Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 Hey@STONEY.... this site might be up for trade .... if u talk to BigHands nicely Link to post Share on other sites
Stoney 1,584 Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 thanks for the tip @jamesc... see how the plans turn out.. Link to post Share on other sites
Bighands 1,065 Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 11 hours ago, jamesc said: Hey@STONEY.... this site might be up for trade .... if u talk to BigHands nicely I NO LONGER HAVE A SITE THERE DUE TO NOT PAYING THE EXHORBINANT FEES TO OUR BELOVEd doc 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Stoney 1,584 Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 Few yrs ago at last job we had sites down the coast, one load of bees was mistakenly unloaded at the wrong spot in the bush.. after working those bees a few times we received an email from the department asking for them to please be moved... within 2 months. We had a bit of a laugh as that would have given us the honey flow there.. but moved them anyway. another time the driver mistook the roadies gravel site as the bee site, dropped them off and very next day we received a call... “ move them tonight or we will push em into the bush with the loader” they got moved quick too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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