tudor

Just try Yellow Box honey from Euc melliodora https://www.honeytraveler.com/single-flower-honey/yellow-box-honey/ Very good honey, much more complex than NZ clover.

Hi, We have three hives about a Km from you, opened them today and they are doing very well, capping lots of honey, and not a varroa to be seen on drone larvae in bridge comb. How long did you leave the Apivar strips in for spring treatment ? Your sugar shake varroa load indicates an urgent need for treatment. Regards

Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzkxq7qGqxQ

You are a survivor, long may it continue.

So, when Margot C gets a back injury from lifting 40 Kg boxes, she will receive ACC support but only if she is within NZ. It may be appropriate to point this out before she is injured, and get her to help with non-lifting activities or up to 20 Kg . https://www.securo.co.nz/articles/maximum-weight-lift-during-work What Are The Guidelines On The Maximum Weight You Should Attempt Lift? The maximum weight you can lift depends on: Your gender The distance of the load from your body The height of the load The following diagram depicts the guidelines:

Hi, Why not have a look at this. Regards. https://www.nzbees.net/files/file/89-easy-bee-keeping-for-hobbyists-in-new-zealand/

yes digitalis poisoned one toddler here who had to be admitted - a flower was given to him by his strange brother ! We removed all foxgloves, and now they are returning after 15 years. Lovely in the garden again, but new crop of grand kids is starting ...

Lily of the Valley is very poisonous and causes cardiac problems,

Sounds more a concern than a risk thanks again

Thanks. It appears that they are very toxic ?

Hi, Can someone please identify this shrub found in CHC a couple of weeks ago ? Plantsnap called it Rowan wilsoniana, but that is a tree. Thanks, Tudor.

just stick with Hoffmans, Manleys defeat the principle of consistency across boxes and just cause annoyance later on

Back to basics. The first step is to prevent the hive entering the "We are going to swarm" mode Then an intervention such as an Artificial Swarm if they are in swarming mode. Or they will swarm. Look up how to do it my "Easy Bee Keeping for Hobbyists in NZ".

It really depends on the point of view. I have always been a hobby BK and used one size (3/4), don't use queen excluder, and freely use boxes anywhere which have had brood. Honey has lots of pollen in it, and is full of flavour, and lots of bits of wax especially if it contains kanuka - it needs "tickling" to get the honey out of the comb. And, obviously, no active brood in the cells when considered for extraction. It is strained and not filtered, and in high demand with people who like really tasty honey. But only a couple of hundred kg's per year, completely different view point!

good catch, @Otto they just wanted a home !