Hives in snow. (Jan. 31, 2012.)
Hives in snow. (Jan. 31, 2012.) http://mudsongs.org/gone-away-is-the-bluebird/
Pollen patties wrapped in plastic. (Jan. 27, 2012.) http://mudsongs.org/how-to-make-pollen-patties/
LEFT: Crushed-and-strained honey from Sept. 27/11. RIGHT: Crystallized extracted honey from Oct. 03/11. http://mudsongs.org/crystallized-honey-after-4-months/
Bee poop in snow. (Jan. 21, 2012.)
Bees eating week-old dry sugar. (Jan. 08, 2012.) http://mudsongs.org/dry-sugar-feeding-update/
Moisture inside a winter hive. (Jan. 08, 2012.) http://mudsongs.org/dead-bees-and-high-low-clusters/
Dry sugar feeding. (Dec. 31, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/dry-sugar-feeding/
Bees clustering in a founationless hive (Dec. 31, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/dead-bees-and-high-low-clusters/
Bees clustering just before dry sugar feeding. http://mudsongs.org/dry-sugar-feeding/
Hives in snow. (Dec. 24, 2011).
Dead bees in front of the foundationless hive after winter storm. (Dec. 22, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-sudden-dying-off-of-winter-bees/
A sudden appearance of dead bees in the foundationless hives. (Dec. 22, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-sudden-dying-off-of-winter-bees/
Bees huddled under top cover on Dec. 15, 2011. http://mudsongs.org/mid-december-bees/
First snow of 2011. (Nov. 19. 2011.)
Frost on the hives. (Nov. 4, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-preparations-part-2-hive-wrap/
Late season drone bee. (Nov. 11, 2011.)
Two queen excluders. (Nov. 6, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/plastic-vs-metal-queen-excluders/
Hive propped up on the back so moisture drains out to the front end of the hive. (Nov. 4, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-preparations-part-1-insulation-and-stuff/
Hives #2 and #1 with a piece of R-7.5 hard insulation over the inner covers (Nov. 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-preparations-part-1-insulation-and-stuff/
Late fall bees in top box. (Nov. 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-preparations-part-1-insulation-and-stuff/
Insulated inner cover. (Nov. 03, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-preparations-part-1-insulation-and-stuff/
Deep frame of honey in late fall hive (Nov. 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-preparations-part-1-insulation-and-stuff/
Bees chillin' by the mesh. (Nov. 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-preparations-part-1-insulation-and-stuff/
Mouse-proofing mesh. (Nov. 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-preparations-part-1-insulation-and-stuff/
Honey comb with mould (Oct. 31, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/mould-on-a-honey-frame/
Honey comb with mould on the right (Oct. 31, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/mould-on-a-honey-frame/
Honey comb with mould. (Oct. 31, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/mould-on-a-honey-frame/
A deep frame of honey fed back to the bees. (Oct. 23, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/feeding-the-bees-honey-instead-of-syrup/
Feeding a deep frame of honey back to the bees. Hive #1. (Oct. 23, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/feeding-the-bees-honey-instead-of-syrup/
Inverted jar feeder full of honey. Hive #2. (Oct. 23, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/feeding-the-bees-honey-instead-of-syrup/
Feeding honey back to the bees through an inverted jar feeder. Hive #3. (Oct. 23, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/feeding-the-bees-honey-instead-of-syrup/
Screen shot of Michael Palmer's mouse-proofing mesh from a Brushy Mountain video. http://mudsongs.org/winter-mouse-proof-mesh/
Screen shot of Michael Palmer's winter preparation gear from a Brushy Mountain video. http://mudsongs.org/winter-mouse-proof-mesh/
Bee on arm. (Oct. 10, 2011.)
Another battle royale with a wasp. (Oct. 10, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/yellow-jackets-everywhere/
Wasps filling a screened ventilation hole. (Oct. 9, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/yellow-jackets-everywhere/
Mouse-proof mesh (half an inch wide). (Oct. 9, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-mouse-proof-mesh/
Half-inch mouse-proofing mesh. (Oct. 9, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/winter-mouse-proof-mesh/
A wasp decapitating a drone. (Oct. 9, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/yellow-jackets-everywhere/
The last honey of the year for 2011. (Oct. 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/extracting-honey/
Capped honey with "wet" cappings from a friend's hive. It's also Goldenrod honey. (Oct. 1, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/whats-capped-honey/
Packaged cut comb. (Sept. 25, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/cut-comb-bottled-honey/
Capped honey with "dry" caps. (Sept. 25, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/whats-capped-honey/
See a higher rez version at: http://mudsongs.org/bees-in-the-dark/
Screened entrance reducer. (Sept. 20, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/screened-entrance-reducer-prototype/
Wasp outside wasp trap. (Sept. 18, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-wasp-trap/
Hives weighed down for approaching Hurricane Maria. (Sept. 16, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/weighing-down-hives/
Partially reduced entrance to Hive #2, mainly as protection from wasps / yellow jackets. (Sept. 16, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-wasp-trap/
125ml bottles of raw honey. About 5 oz or 150g. (September 14, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/making-cut-comb-old-school/
A handful of cut comb. (September 13, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/making-cut-comb-old-school/
Lifting the frame off the cut honey comb. (September 13, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/making-cut-comb-old-school/
Honey from Hive #2 on top and Hive #1 on bottom. (Sept. 10, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/2-honeys-in-1-jar/
Bottling honey from Hive #1. (Sept. 08, 2011.)
Nylon paint strainer for straining the honey. (Sept. 12, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/making-cut-comb-old-school/
Video grab of honey bee with white markings. (Sept. 5, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/mutant-honey-bees/
Honey bee on white flower. (Sept. 5, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/mutant-honey-bees/
Bees in Hive #3 going mad on the honey-soaked wax bits, sometimes referred to as wax cappings. (September 4, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
Our first batch of honey from a single frame. (Sept. 4, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/our-first-4-bottles-of-honey/
Bottling our first batch of honey. (September 4, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/our-first-4-bottles-of-honey/
Approximately 3 pounds of liquid honey from a 4 found frame of honey. (September 4, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
Honey soaked beeswax. (September 4, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
Left over beeswax after draining overnight. (September 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
Filtering most of the wax using a standard kitchen strainer. (September 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
About 4 pounds of crushed honey comb. (September 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
Approximately 4 ounds of raw honey comb. (September 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
Cutting out the honey. (September 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
Our first cut of honey comb from Hive #2. (September 3, 2011.)
A frame of capped and open honey from Hive #2. (September 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/crushing-and-straining-a-small-batch-of-honey/
Crazy burr comb. (August 30, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/science-fiction-honey-comb/
Bees with a screened bottom board not bearding so much after a hot humid night. (August 30, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/high-humidity-and-bearding/
Bees bearding after a hot humid night. (August 30, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/high-humidity-and-bearding/
Biggest burr comb I've ever seen. (August 28, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/follower-board-mistake/
"So I says {slurp}... I says to Mabel {slurp}… I says {slurp}..." (August 28, 2011.) See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/five-proboscises/
Frame of honey from one of our nucs. (August 28, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/nucs-how-we-raised-em-well/
Honey frame with some brood in the middle. HIve #3 or #4, one of our nucs. (August 28th, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/nucs-bursting-at-the-seams/
Made in the shade. (August 27, 2011.)
A frame of honey from Hive #1. (August 27, 2011.)
A paritially draw and mostly filled foundationless honey comb in Hive #2. (August 27, 2011.)
Refilling a frame feeder. (August 27, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/refilling-a-frame-feeder/
Hive #3. (August 27, 2011.) Check out this link for a pollen patty recipe: http://mudsongs.org/refilling-a-frame-feeder/
Honey bees in a nuc chowing down on a pollen patty. (August 27, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/refilling-a-frame-feeder/
Screen capture of honey frame from this video: http://mudsongs.org/adding-a-second-honey-super/
Honey bee on lettuce. (August 21st, 2011.) See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/bee-on-lettuce/
The view of Hive #1 through the screened inner cover. (August 21, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/screened-inner-covers-good-view-of-the-hive/
Screened bottom board hive on the left. Regular bottom board on the right. (August 20th, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/screened-bottom-board-solid-bottom-board/
Close up of the screened inner cover entrance. (August 18, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/improvised-screened-inner-cover/
Home made screened inner cover. (August 18, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/improvised-screened-inner-cover/
Bottom side of homemade screened bottom board. (August 17th, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/homemade-screened-bottom-board/
Homemade screened bottom board. Cheap. (August 17th, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/homemade-screened-bottom-board/
Earwigs in the hive. (August 17th, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/earwigs-in-the-hive/
Bees on the entrance of Hive #1. (August 17, 2011.)
Hive #2. (August 17, 2011.)
Popsicle stick ventilation aid. (August 17, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/hive-humidity-video/
Freshly scooped honey from Hive #1. (August 16, 2011.)
Scooping into a frame of honey pulled from Hive #1. (August 16, 2011.)
Hive #2, Hive #2 (shortly after being moved), Hive #4 and Hive #3. (August 14th, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/four-hives-in-a-row/
Bottom boards made from scrap lumber. I'm so proud of myself. (August 12, 2011.)
Honey comb in Hive #1's honey super. (August 12, 2011.)
Left side of a incomplete frame of honey in Hive #1's honey super. (August 12, 2011.)
Right side of an incomplete frame of honey in Hive #1's honey super. (August 11, 2011.)
Uncapped honey in Hive #1's honey super. (August 12, 2011.)
Close up on natural comb in Hive #1's honey super. (August 12, 2011.)
Fresh comb in Hive #1's honey super. (August 12, 2011.)
Partially capped frame of honey in Hive #1's honey super. (August 12, 2011.)
Bees drinking vomited pollen? (August 10, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/photo-of-a-friendly-bee/
The ventilator rim installed on a nuc (August 9, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/improving-langstroth-honey-bee-hive-ventilation-with-the-mud-songs-ventilator-rim%E2%84%A2/
Honey bee on hand (August 8, 2011). See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/photo-of-a-friendly-bee/
Fresh comb from a honey super in Hive #1 (August 8, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/photo-of-a-friendly-bee/
Festooning in the honey super. Call the cops. (August 8, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/photo-of-a-friendly-bee/
HAL-9000 View of our "bee yard" (a.k.a. our "backyard"). August 5, 2011. http://mudsongs.org/hal-9000-bee-yard/
Inside the Hive #1 with venilator rim (August 3, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/making-a-ventilator-rim/
Bees inside honey super crowding around inner cover hole (August 2, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/making-a-ventilator-rim/
HIve #2 with ventilator rim (August 3, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/making-a-ventilator-rim/
My first ventilator rim. (August 2, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/making-a-ventilator-rim/
One side of the final dummy board. http://mudsongs.org/dummy-boards-for-dummies/
The dummy boards installed in a now-9-frame brood box. When the frames are pushed against the Popcicle stick spacer thing, it provides an even spacing between all the frames and the sides of the box. Then the dummy boards (or follower boards) can do their thing and live happily ever after. http://mudsongs.org/dummy-boards-for-dummies/
Typical laying pattern with brood cells in the middle surrounded by a ring of pollen and honey. (August 2, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/capped-drone-comb-and-other-mysteriousnesses-of-the-universe/
Old capped drone comb (August 2, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/capped-drone-comb-and-other-mysteriousnesses-of-the-universe/
Capped drone comb (August 2, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/capped-drone-comb-and-other-mysteriousnesses-of-the-universe/
Old spotty capped drone comb. (August 2, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/capped-drone-comb-and-other-mysteriousnesses-of-the-universe/
Two nucs and one hive. (July 25th, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-pollen-shot/
Honey bee cleaning out some comb. (July 25, 2011.) See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/cleaning-comb/
Honey bee coming back to a nuc hive with pollen. (July 25, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-pollen-shot/
More scenting (July 25, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-scenting/
Massive scenting. (July 25, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-scenting/
Honey bee scenting to say, "Hey, this is the way back home!" (July 25, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-scenting/
Honey bee scenting (July 25, 2011). See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-scenting/
Honey bee scenting (July 25, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-scenting/
Yo, who's doing all the scenting around here? What's going on? http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-scenting/
Honey bees scenting to say, "Hey, this is the way back home!" (July 25, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-scenting/
Natural comb (July 24th, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/a-pretty-strip-of-comb/
A strip of natural comb less than a week old (July 24th, 2011). See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/a-pretty-strip-of-comb/
Clean fresh honey comb (July 24th, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/a-pretty-strip-of-comb/
Fresh comb with nectar and dark pollen (July 24th, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/a-pretty-strip-of-comb/
Dark pollen (July 24th, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/a-pretty-strip-of-comb/
Honey comb glistening with nectar (July 24th, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/a-pretty-strip-of-comb/
Inappropriate footware for the beeyard. (July 17, 2011.)
Bees lining up in a row. (July 8, 2011.)
Honey bee on strawberry flower (July 6th, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/honey-bee-on-strawberry-blossoms/
Bees in Hive #1 clustering heavily off the bottom bars after a rain shower (July 5, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/thick-bottom-bar-clustering/
Futilely attempting to exclude drones from Hive #2 (July 2, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/knocking-it-down-to-one-foundationless-hive/
More drones from Hive #2 (June 21, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/reassessing-part-1/
Drones in flight. Hive #1 (June 21, 2011).
Drones in flight from Hive #2 (June 21, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/knocking-it-down-to-one-foundationless-hive/
New method for spring feeding (when wasps aren't a problem yet). Put the feeder outside and let them go to it. (June, 19, 2011.)
The Attack of The Drones (June 18, 2011).
The Attack of the Drones (June 18, 2011).
Giant virgin Italian queen from a friend's mating nuc (June 12, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/what-does-a-queen-bee-look-like/
Two foundationless medium frames with comb fitted in to encourage the bees to build inside an empty super (June 12, 2011).
Cutting deep drone comb to fit into a medium frame (June 12, 2011).
Drone come fitted into medium frame (June 12, 2011).
Fitting deep drone comb into a medium frame (June 12, 2011).
It was easier to pull off than cut off (June 12, 2011).
Cutting drone comb from a deep frame to fit into a medium frame (June 12, 2011).
Bumble Bee (June 4, 2011). See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/a-bumble-bee/
Frame with drone and worker brood from Hive #1. (June 4, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/bring-out-the-drones-again/
Hive #1 after full inspection. (June 4, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/bring-out-the-drones-again/
Can you spot the monster drones? (June 4, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/bring-out-the-drones-again/
Foundationless drone comb (again) from Hive #1 (June 4, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/bring-out-the-drones-again/
Five foundationless frames in a medium super (June 1, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/what-i-did-today/
Hand planner for smoothy down edges of supers (I suck at hand planning). (June 1, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/what-i-did-today/
Moisture under the top cover a few days after removing the hard insulation (June 1, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/what-i-did-today/
Crappy hand planning job (June 1, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/what-i-did-today/
Bees on top bars inside empty medium super (June 1, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/what-i-did-today/
Plastic insert feeder in a medium super (June 1, 2011). The top part where the bees walk down to the syrup needs to be waxed too. http://mudsongs.org/what-i-did-today/
Under side of plastic insert feeder with some wax slapped around the plastic to make it easier for the bees to climb up (June 1, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/what-i-did-today/
Plastic insert feeder (June 1, 2011). The portion under the screen should be waxed too. http://mudsongs.org/what-i-did-today/
Smoker and a spray buttle for sugar water (June 1, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/falling-short-of-my-ideals/
Honey bee on dandelion (May 26, 2011). https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/BeesPollen#
Natural drone comb (May 25, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/architecture-of-honey-comb/
Phillip and drone comb (May 25, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/architecture-of-honey-comb/
Bees drinking dirty water (May 24, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-drinking-dirty-water/
Honey bees sucking moisture from dirty water on the edge of a raised garden bed (May 23, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/honey-bees-drinking-dirty-water/
Honey bee on rosemary (May 23, 2011). See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/honey-bee-resting-on-rosemary/
Queen cup in Hive #2 (May 19, 2011). See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/possible-swarm-cell/
Queen cup in Hive #2 (May 19, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/possible-swarm-cell/
Dead queen? (May 15, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/does-this-look-like-a-dead-queen-to-you/
Hive #1 after a disturbance (May 13, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/friday-the-13th/
Hive #2 after a major disturbance (May 13, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/friday-the-13th/
Honey bee on Phillip's finger (May 10, 2011.) See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/friendly-bee-on-my-finger/
Old bottom board from Hive #2 full of dead bees (May 10, 2011).
Pollen (May 10, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/rainbow-of-pollen/
Honey bees with pollen (May 10, 2011). See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/rainbow-of-pollen/
More colourful pollen (May 10, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/rainbow-of-pollen/
Honey bees in the sky (May 10, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/friendly-bee-on-my-finger/
Honey bee on Phillip's finger (May 10, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/friendly-bee-on-my-finger/
Honey bees with pollen (May 10, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/rainbow-of-pollen/
Honey bees sharing (May 10, 2011).
Honey bee with pollen (May 10, 2011). (Heavily cropped in.) http://mudsongs.org/rainbow-of-pollen/
Honey bee with pollen (May 10, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/rainbow-of-pollen/
Side of a hive (May 10, 2011).
In your face (May 10, 2011.)
Bees around the entrance (May 10, 2011).
Look at those shiny wings (May 10, 2011).
Honey bee drinking (May 8, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/photos-of-bees-drinking/
Honey bee drinking (May 8, 2011). See higher rez version here: http://mudsongs.org/photos-of-bees-drinking/
Out of focus honey bees drinking (May 8, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/photos-of-bees-drinking/
Hive #1 on the left. New location on the right. (May 5, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/the-aftermath-of-moving-a-hive/
Bees wax brushed over the cracks in the leaky top hive feeders. (May 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/bees-doing-bee-things-video/
Melting beeswax on the BBQ. (May 3, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/bees-doing-bee-things-video/
Early spring activity in Hive #1. http://mudsongs.org/photos-an-active-spring-hive/
Early spring activity in Hive #1 on April 19, 2011. http://mudsongs.org/photos-an-active-spring-hive/
Young fuzzy bees in Hive #1 (April 13, 2011.) https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/FirstSpringPollen#
Bee with first spring pollen from Hive #2 (April, 13, 2011). https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/FirstSpringPollen#
Bees in flight from Hive #2 (April 11, 2011). https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/SpringBeesInFlight#
Hive #2 with an inverted jar feeder shelted inside two medium supers (April 11, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/hives-in-the-snow/
Hive #1 with a jar feeder shelted by two medium supers (April 11, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/hives-in-the-snow/
Syrup leaked from a top hive feeder. (April 11, 2011.) See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Top hive feeder with inner cover flat down in the regular position (April 10, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Hive #2 with top hive feeder, inner cover in regular position, candy cake and pollen patty on the bottom board (April 10, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Top hive feeder with inner cover in winter position to make room for pollen patties (April 10, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Popcile sticks used for floats to prevent drowning (April 10th, 2010). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Left side of top hive feeder almost full of syrup (April 10, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Top hvie feeder with screens to prevent robbing from wasps (April 09, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Tapping down staples on top hive feeder screens (April 9, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Stapling screens on top hive feeders (April 9, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Adding screens to top hive feeder reservoirs to prevent robbing from wasps (April 9, 2010). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/first-spring-feeding-with-top-hive-feeders/
Honey bee cranking out the Nasonov pheromone (April 1, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/cranking-out-the-nasonov-pheromone/
Honey bees cranking out the Nasonov pheromone (April 1, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/cranking-out-the-nasonov-pheromone/
Honey bee on bottom board (April 1, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/cranking-out-the-nasonov-pheromone/
Fresh honey bee poo (March 31, 2011). See more at: http://mudsongs.org/its-pooin-time/
Bees at the bottom entrance of Hive #1 (March 31, 2011). Yes, I know I misspelled Rick Café. See more at: http://mudsongs.org/its-pooin-time/
Honey bee warming up in the cold (March 31, 2011.) See more at: http://mudsongs.org/its-pooin-time/
Hive #2 after fixing a leak (March 29, 2011).
Hive #1 with duct tape just to be safe (March 29, 2011).
Hive #1 after adding final pollen patty (March 29, 2011).
For the record, this is an inner hive cover. (March 20, 2011.)
Circle traced from the inner cover hole. (March 20, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-4-litre-pickle-jar-feeder-and-the-nature-of-things/
Tiny holes punched in the cap for the jar feeder. (March 20, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-4-litre-pickle-jar-feeder-and-the-nature-of-things/
Home made jar feeder. (March 20, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/a-4-litre-pickle-jar-feeder-and-the-nature-of-things/
10-frame spaced honey super.
9-frame spaced honey super.
Markers for 9-frame spaced honey super.
Dead winter bees (March 3, 2011.) See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/DeadWinterBees#
Bees that didn't make it back after cleansing flights. (Feb. 22, 2011). http://mudsongs.org/cleansing-flights/
A little bee in the snow. (Feb. 22, 2011.) http://mudsongs.org/cleansing-flights/
Adding pollen patties on Feb. 18, 2011. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/AddingPollenPatties#
Dead bee in snow (Feb. 17, 2011).
Backyard on Feb. 11, 2011.
Hives #2 and #1 (Feb. 11, 2011).
Bees around upper entrance in Hive #2. Condensation exiting the hive collects in droplets outside the hive. (Feb. 1, 2011).
Frozen bottom board on Hive #2 (Feb. 1, 2011).
Dead drone in the snow (Feb. 1, 2011).
Hive #2 with about 4 pounds of candy cakes. (Jan. 28, 2011.)
Mid-winter cluster in Hive #2 about to get some candy cakes. They shouldn't be this high in the hive so early in the winter. (Jan. 28, 2011.)
Making candy cakes on Jan. 26, 2011. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/MakingCandyCakes#
Frozen bees and ice near the entrance of Hive #2 (Jan. 17, 2011).
Dead bee in the snow a short distance from Hive #2 (Jan. 17, 2011.) Re-uploaded in higher rez.
Dead bee in the snow a short distance from Hive #2 (Jan. 17, 2011.)
Hives #2 and #1 on January 13th, 2011.
Mos Eisley. A wretched hive of scum and villainy. (Nov. 23, 2010.)
Guard bee coming for me through the snow. (Nov. 23, 2010.)
Hole cut in felt around upper entrance / ventilation hole. (Nov. 21, 2010.)
Mouse-proof entrance reducer held in place by felt wrap. (Nov. 21, 2010.)
Back of Hive #2 wrapped for winter. (Nov. 21, 2010.)
Hive #1 wrapped for winter, minus top cover. (Nov. 21, 2010.)
Probably a Wax Moth. We killed 'em. (Nov. 11, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/wax-moth/
Kicked out drones. (Nov. 18, 2010.)
Kicked out drone. (Nov. 18, 2010.)
1st batch of beekeeping books. (Nov. 17, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/1st-batch-of-beekeeping-books/
First snow. (Nov. 3, 2010.)
Video capture of Hive #1 from Oct. 25/10. http://mudsongs.org/adding-inverted-jar-feeders/
Video capture of Hive #2 from Oct. 25/10. http://mudsongs.org/adding-inverted-jar-feeders/
Nearly empty top hive feeder on Hive #2. (Oct. 24, 2010.)
Two mouse-proof entrance reducers. (Oct. 17, 2010.) To Casablanca fans, yes, I know I got the name of Rick's Café wrong. I'll fix it for next winter. http://mudsongs.org/building-a-mouse-proof-winter-entrance-reducer/
Mouse-proof entrance reducer for Hive #1. (Oct. 17, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/building-a-mouse-proof-winter-entrance-reducer/
Mouse-proof winter entrance reducer for Hive #2. (Oct. 17, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/building-a-mouse-proof-winter-entrance-reducer/
Bees outside Hive #2. (Oct. 17, 2010.)
Making insulated hive covers on Oct. 15, 2010. https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/InsulatedInnerHiveCovers#
Done.
One half of the top hive feeder filled to the brim. Hive #2. (Oct. 14, 2010.)
You can see how thick the syrup is. (Oct. 14, 2010.)
Filling up one side of a top hive feeder on Hive #2. (Oct. 14, 2010.)
Bees clustering around inner cover hole in Hive #2. (Oct. 14, 2010.)
HIve #2 with two nearly empty double frame feeders installed over the inner cover. (Oct. 14, 2010.)
Drowned bees inside the top hive feeder. (Oct. 14, 2010.)
Dead bees and wasps outside the entrance to Hive #1. (Oct. 14, 2010.)
Bees around top entrance. Hive #1, I think. (Oct. 12, 2010.)
Bottom entrance to Hive #2. (Oct. 12, 2010.)
Bees huddled around a leaking top hive feeder in HIve #1. (Oct. 8, 2010.)
Bees crowding around an upper entrance. (October 5, 2010.)
Shadows on the wall. (October 5, 2010.)
Bees in flight on October 5, 2010. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/BeesInFlight#
Bees fighting around Hive #1. (Sept. 30, 2010.)
Hive #2 with two honey supers holding a frame feeder. (Sept. 29, 2010.)
Hive #1 with two honey supers, one with 8 frames, the top one hold frame feeder. (Sept. 29. 2010.)
Close up on bearding. Whole lotta bees. (Sept. 27, 2010.)
Bees clumping on board board. (Sept. 27, 2010.)
Bees around upper entrance. (Sept. 27, 2010.)
Condensation on outer cover. (Sept. 27, 2010.)
Wasps (Sept. 27, 2010).
Little roof over entrance. (Sept. 21, 2010.)
Close up of temporary entrance shelter. (Sept. 20, 2010.) BAD DESIGN. DON'T DO THIS.
Batting down the hatches, ready for a hurricane. (Sept. 20, 2010). BAD DESIGN. DON'T DO THIS.
Chalkbrood? (Sept. 20, 2010.)
Drone comb mixed with honeycomb on a foundationless frame. (Sept. 16, 2010.)
Foundationless honey comb. (Sept. 16, 2010.)
This is what we see in Hive #1. This should be a carpet of bees before winter, so they have a while to go. (Sept. 16, 2010.)
Dead pupae cleared from the hive over night on September 15, 2010. https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/DeadBeesNotPretty#
$21 a bag from "wholesale" stores. (Sept. 10, 2010.)
The funnel hole is my addition, using it for easy refilling without drowning as many bees. Just make sure to plug up the hole when you're done and refill SLOWLY so the bees packed in the tubes have a chance to get away from the rising tide of syrup. (September 6, 2010.) More info at: http://mudsongs.org/frame-feeders-have-arrived/
I cut out the small hole on the right. The funnel goes there during re-filling. Then I tape it up with duct tape. (September 6, 2010.)
2-frame frame feeder with bee ladders outside to show how it works. (September 6, 2010.)
Drowned bees from frame feeder. (September 5, 2010.)
Hive #1 with medium super sheltering improvised feeder. (September 4, 2010.)
Putting the top over the medium super. (September 4, 2010.)
Filling cassarole dish with 2 litres of syrup. Wooden bridges so the bees don't drown. This is an experiment. UPDATE: The feeder didn't work. (September 4, 2010.)
Placing medium super over inner cover. (September 4, 2010.)
Inserting one of two foundationless frames. (September 4, 2010.)
Honey on the top and side. Brood in the middle. (September 4, 2010.)
Honey on top and sides. Brood on the bottom half. (September 4, 2010.)
Honeybees going to town on the frame feeder. (September 4, 2010.)
Frame feeder that takes up 2 frame spaces. (September 4, 2010.)
Bees hanging on.
Another full-drawn honeycomb in Hive #1. (August 28, 2010.)
Close up on some foundationless honeycomb in Hive #1. (August 28, 2010.)
Beautiful foundationless honeycomb in Hive #1. Two weeks ago it was an empty frame. (August 28, 2010.)
1 of 4 founationless combs in Hive #1 after two weeks. (August 28, 2010.)
Capped honey in Hive #1.
The one foundationless frame out of four that barely had any comb on it after two weeks. (Hive #1, August 28, 2010.)
Mixture of comb in Hive #1. (August 28, 2010.)
Brood comb in Hive #1. (August 28, 2010.)
Bees drinking loads from frame feeder in Hive #1. (August 28, 2010.)
Hive #1 with frame freeder. (August 28, 2010.)
Second brood box on Hive #2 with frame feeder on the right. (August 28, 2010.)
Honey on top and brood in the middle, from Hive #2. (August 28, 2010.)
More brood and honey in Hive #2. (August 28, 2010.)
Solid brood comb in Hive #2. (August 28, 2010.)
Honey and brood from Hive #2. (August 28, 2010.)
Partially drawn frame from Hive #2. (August 28, 2010.)
HIve #1 with the roof off. Not the most robust colony, but okay, I suppose. (August 28, 2010.)
Queen exluder on top. Top cover removed to help cool the hive. (August, 28, 2010.) I probably won't do this again.
Bees sticking to frame after adding feeder. They'll fly back into the hive when they realize, "Hey, we're not inside anymore!" (August 25, 2010.)
Removed frame after adding 2-frame feeder. (August 25, 2010.)
Steady stream of bees. (August 24, 2010.)
Natural white honeycomb. The bees build right through the wire which provides extra support. (Still, I wouldn't flip the frame over.) (August 21, 2010.)
The three section will eventually join. (August 21, 2010.)
Honeybee festooning. (August 21, 2010.)
Festooning is when the bees hang off each other in a chain to determine the straightest line down on which to build the comb. (August 21, 2010.) This photo has also been used by Imkerpedia at: http://imkerpedia.nl/wiki/index.php/Bestand:Bouwbijen.JPG
The bees on the right are festooning. (August 21, 2010.)
Looks like I'm wearing a cup made of honeycomb.
Honeybee on Cilantro flower #2. (August 16, 2010.)
Dead baby bees. (August 16, 2010.)
Close up of larvae in cells. Looking good!
Sliding frames flush against the other side of Hive #1. (August 14, 2010.)
More bees!
Check it out! (August 14, 2010.) https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/AddingABroodChamber#
Bee on the edge. (August 14, 2010.)
Close up on bee with pollen. (August 10, 2010.)
Bees coming home loaded down with pollen. (August 10, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/honeybees-with-pollen/
Close up on Hive #2. (Aug 09, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/non-intrusive-hive-inspection/
Hive #2. (Aug 09, 2010.)
Closer on Hive #2. The bees built a warped comb because there was too much space between the frames in the middle of this photo. (Aug 09, 2010.)
Hive #2 with empty feeder bag. (Aug 09, 2010.)
A big old drone bee. (July 31, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/a-drone-bee/
Cutting honeycomb off the top of a frame. (July 31, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/inspecting-the-hives/
Removing honeycomb from top of the frames. (July 31, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/inspecting-the-hives/
Honeycomb on top of the frames. (July 31, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/inspecting-the-hives/
Capped brood cells. (July 31, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/inspecting-the-hives/
Inspecting a frame full of brood. (July 31, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/inspecting-the-hives/
Our first take of honey from burr comb on July 30, 2010. https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/FirstTasteOfHoney#
Pieces and measurements for Boardman feeder. http://mudsongs.org/homemade-boardman-feeder/
Homemade Boardman feeder #2. The lip on the left goes out further than it looks. The lid is shoved in tight, which makes for less messy refilling and helps keep ants and thieving bees away. Missing from the picture is the perforated cap that fits in the Mason jar lid. http://mudsongs.org/homemade-boardman-feeder/
Homemade Boardman feeder. (July 29, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/homemade-boardman-feeder/
Basic Boardman feeder design.
Entrance reducer. Any old piece of wood seems to work just as well.
Store-bought Boardman feeder. (July 29, 2010.) WARNING: Don't use honey for feeding unless it's from your own bees. Grocery store honey often contains spores for various Foul Brood diseases which you definitely do not want in your hives. http://mudsongs.org/homemade-boardman-feeder/
Homemade Boardman feeder. (July 29, 2010.) WARNING: Don't use honey for feeding unless it's from your own bees. Grocery store honey often contains spores for various Foul Brood diseases which you definitely do not want in your hives. http://mudsongs.org/homemade-boardman-feeder/
Bees crowding entrance. (July 28, 2010.)
2 bees cooling the hive by fanning their wings. Other bees going about their business. (July 27, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/bees-cooling-hive-2/
2 bees cooling the hive by fanning their wings. (July 27, 2010.) http://mudsongs.org/bees-cooling-hive-2/
2 bees cooling the hive by fanning their wings. Other bees going about their business. (July 27, 2010.)
Ta-da! The refilled feeder. WARNING: Don't use honey for feeding unless it's from your own bees. Grocery store honey often contains spores for various Foul Brood diseases which you definitely do not want in your hives.
An improvised feeder.
Removing perforated cap from feeder with bees still crawling all around. (July 25, 2010.)
Bees sticking to the feeder while the feed is being refilled. (July 25, 2010.)
All the bees came with the feeder even after pulled away from the hive. (July 25, 2010.)
Close-up of bees on feeder base.
The just-opened nuc box full of bees. http://mudsongs.org/installing-nuc-boxes-full-of-honeybees/
The first hive after we installed the bees. (July 18, 2010.) See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/InstallingHoneybees#
Some of the blossoms in our back field for our bees. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/HoneybeeParadise#
Phillip's first time handling bees (at Paradise Farms) on June 10th, 2010. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/PhillipWithBees#
Staining hive boxes on June 03, 2010. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/PaintingHive1#
Building honey comb frames on May 30, 2010. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/PaintingHive1#
Jenny building a hive box on May 23, 2010. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/BuildingBeeHive1#
Phillip is his new bee suit on May 20, 1010. See more at: https://picasaweb.google.com/phillipcairns/BeeSuit#
