Knives’ hive continues to amaze me. During today’s inspection, I noticed a lot of frames with new pollen stores plus there were a lot of foragers flying back in with full pollen sacs.
I really have no idea what could be blooming. I guess this is one of the benefits of having hives in an urban environment where people still keep their gardens alive even when the outlying areas are parched dry and on fire.
Filed under beekeeping, pollination
On a serious note, central Texas is currently experiencing some of the worst fires in the history of the State. A year-long drought followed by large gusts of cool dry air from Tropical Storm Lee was a deadly cocktail for starting wild fires. This is a shot of downtown Austin with dark billowing smoke dominating the horizon.
For those interesting in helping, please donate to the Red Cross of Central Texas.
Filed under news
During my hive inspections, I’ve started placing a line of honey along the front entrance. I figure it helps keep the girls occupied, and who knows, they may even start associating an inspection with a treat of honey. I always get a laugh when I see them come out of the hive and start taking up the honey. They really remind me of pigs at a trough.
We finally had a break in temperature today, and it was a beautiful 75 degrees when I checked on the hives. The ironic part is a good chunk of the Austin area is on fire right now as the cold front brought it gusty winds and lowered the humidity considerably. It would have been really nice if Tropical Storm Lee had decided to go through Texas as opposed to the other Gulf Coast states.
Filed under beekeeping
You can read the entire article here, but this is my favorite excerpt from a recent Slate article about a beehive exposed during Hurricane Irene.
But the vibe among these amateur beekeepers was bordering on hostile. As a city contractor made phone calls, several people in yoga clothes and a twenty-something cyclist with a moustache argued over who had spotted the hive first. A man in a beekeeping suit, sans hood, pondered preempting them all by scaling the wet, slippery tree trunk and snatching it, seemingly with his bare hands.
It sounds like this entire argument could have been solved with a quick game of rock paper scissors lizard Spock.
Filed under beekeeping, news
Austin area beekeepers have two upcoming meetings. These gatherings are a great way to meet local beekeepers, exchange ideas, and get your questions answered.
September 10th from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Goodwill Resource Center
6505 Burleson Road, Austin, TX
October 15th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
North Village Branch Austin Public Library
2505 Steck Ave, Austin, TX
Filed under beekeeping, education
Marge and Knives have a bunch of new neighbors right next door to the their respective hives. Baab-Brock farms just added a new luxury chicken coop to encourage high density urban development in their downtown Austin area.
Filed under beekeeping
I just spend 5 days in Santa Monica visiting my brother and celebrating my birthday. After months of 100 plus degree weather in Austin, Santa Monica was a welcome respite, and it was amazing to see so many plants that are actually green and blooming. This drought in Texas almost made me forget what flowers actually look like.
I’m sure being a beekeeper in Santa Monica has its unique challenges, but the bees were out in full force while I was there and had their pick of so many different types of blooms. I have no idea what this plant is, but the bees certainly were all over it.
Filed under beekeeping
Here is a great link from a beekeeping exam about the bee waggle dance. I personally think the student should get full points for creativity.
http://myrmecos.net/2011/08/09/the-bee-dance-language-explained-at-last/
Filed under beekeeping, education
Since I haven’t hooked up AC to the hives, the girls will have to take care of the air flow themselves. Below is a photo of fanning behavior to help regulate the hive temperature.
Filed under beekeeping
While I was suiting up to inspect Knives, a family of four foxes wandered up to the fence line of Baab-Brock farms. This area is known for its fox population even though it is within walking distance of downtown.
We only managed to capture one of the four on film. Here it is admiring the ink work on Knives’ hive.
Here is a closer shot.
I really wish we could have snapped a photo of the baby foxes, but they were hiding in the brush, and we couldn’t get a good shot. They were awfully cute though.
Filed under beekeeping
Urban Beekeeping in Austin, Texas 