Extraction Day 7-25-15

Spent most of the day extracting honey from four out of the nine hives. Out of the four this is only a small percentage of honey that was ready.

Stifling to say the least. Feeling for the girls this week.

 

7-20-15 Visit

Had been a couple weeks since I visited these hives. 1/2 were harvested and the other 1/2 almost ready. Was thinning out weeds on 1st hive and the girls were not happy. Of course I had yet to smoke them and got nailed through my jeans. Not bad as stinger really can't stay in through the fabric. Anyway, harvested 60lbs worth. Which is just a fraction of what might be harvested.

7-16-15 Visit

85° with 82% humidity. Yeah, pretty sweaty after I was done. And I only checked 2 hives. MoValley Swarm is doing ok but slow. Found eggs immediately in top deep box.

Other split hive has two deeps and honey super. Harvested 3 frames from honey super. They got so riled up that I thought all out anarchy was upon me. I stopped harvesting at that point. It was almost sunset. Alex through sticks for Hershey dog and Schweeps dog.

7-8-15 Visit

Had been several weeks since I had checked the orchard hive. The honey super on top was almost full but yet still several that needed to be fully capped. I checked the deep below and was able to harvest four full frames with all the others almost completed as well. The unseasonably cool weather still continues, several days this week in the mid-70s with lows in the 60s.

7-7-15

Cool air prevails a few days this week. Highs in mid 70's. Lows in low 60's! These shots are from the Peterbilt swarm that was caught a couple months ago.