WOW!

[Kris^]

We must be having a fantastic nectar flow going on here.  I took two frames of honey each out of supers from hives 1, 2 & 4 on Saturday; those were about the only ones full that didn't also have brood in them.  Then I replaced them back into the hives they came from so the bees could eventually refill them.  Hive 4, which is new this year from a package and had only 1 super on seemed pretty full of bees by midweek, bearding as much or more than the other established hives (1 & 2).  

So I looked into the super this evening and was shocked -- 7 of the frames were completely drawn and 6 of them nearly filled with honey and being capped!  So I put another super of foundation on.  This hive 4 has been a textbook example of a new hive building up and growing fast, and with the queen not laying in the supers, either.  Even hive 3 is finally taking off now.  Its first super, which only had a partially drawn frame on Saturday, now has the middle three frames drawn and filling with honey.  I didn't check the other hives 1 and 2 this evening, since they already have 2 and 3 supers respectively.

Strange thing is, we've been having cooler than normal weather this week, and two quick thunderstorms since Saturday.  I guess the conditions were just right for the remaining flowers to put out the nectar.  I can't wait see what the next few weeks brings.  Guess I'll have to buy some bottles now.  

On another note, Liz got her first sting since I started beekeeping last year.  She was standing by watching me inspect the supers from a short distance, and ONE bee started buzzing her.  She backed off; it came at her head  again.  She backed off more, and it came at her head once more.  So she swatted at it, and it buried its stinger right in her hand, in the small scab of an earlier wound.  She saw its stinger pull out -- then it flew into her hair.  She danced about the yard with her head down shaking her hair out and finally ran into the house.   She laughs about it now because, once the pain subsided, there was very little swelling.

-- Kris

[FrogPond]

Sounds like you are having fun - please excuse my simple question...

Do you pull honey a frame or two at a time? I was under the impression you would do a super at a time - or more. But then, I have never gotten to the honey harvest stage. I am curious to hear about when and how you harvest. I have three hives I started this spring and I don't expect much honey, but I am anxious to get at least a little!

Thanks!

[Kris^]

Do you pull honey a frame or two at a time? I was under the impression you would do a super at a time - or more. But then, I have never gotten to the honey harvest stage. Thanks!

I've never been in the position to pull a full super of honey before, although I hope to next weekend.  But I ran out of my own honey a couple months ago and I've  been jonesing for some real live fresh raw honey. So when I saw several full frames during my inspections last week I decided to pull them, extract them and return them.  Got 18 pounds, and I'm happy for now.  

-- Kris