Cut Comb Honey 27 June

I am amazed that my package bees put up a super of honey in spite of this drought.  The honey tastes like clover honey.  It is very light in color and mild in flavor.  I like it better than last year's crop.  I only had two frames completely sealed, but just couldn't wait and pulled them today and packaged them up.  Cut comb is the only kind of honey I produce.  Last year I gave it all away to friends and family, but this year I am going to try to sell some of it.

Milkweed Blooming today, June 8th

Milkweed started blooming up and down the roads this week.  According to ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture:  "When the weather is favorable the nectar is secreted very rapidly, and a large colony may gather 13 o 17 pounds in a day.  The honey is so thick and heavy that it may be necessary to warm the combs before extracting.  The honey is white or tinged with yellow and has a pleasant fruity flavor ....".  Hope the plants can yield some nectar in this drought we are having.  This is the plant that monarch butterflies depend on for raising their caterpillars.  

Scarlet Sumac bloom June 4th

I took this picture in my yard today.  It is the flower head of a scarlet sumac tree.  Not a very pretty flower, but you can see that the bees and the flys love it.  According to ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture it yields nectar heavily if the day is hot and clear.  It also says that on a good day a hive can pack in 20 pounds of honey.  I suspect that with the low levels of ground moisture, it won't perform that well around here but one can always hope.  It is supposed to bloom for three weeks.  Hope my bees pack some of it in.