First Honey Bee

[ladylottie]

I was thrilled to see my first honey bee this morning on some Dwarf Iris on my patio!
Perhaps it's a good omen as I hardly saw any in the garden last year so are they making a come back?
Has anyone else seen honey bees out and about this year yet?

[lottie dolly]

nice sign that is,have only seen the odd giants

[Mrs Dobby]

Our 7 hives have all come thru the winter well, Pat and Colin inspected them today, there are plenty of eggs, larvae and young bees, with lots of pollen being brought in, they are busy already! After finishing work today I popped to the plot (where Mr D was digging) and there were lots of our girls flying

[VirginVegGrower]

Me too covered in my hellebore pollen.

http://t.co/CCV70gW

[mothhawk]

Not seen any honey bees but had a couple of bumbles around the crocuses this pm in the sunshine.

[Chef_uk]

Not seen any honey bees but had a couple of bumbles around the crocuses this pm in the sunshine.

Same here at work, they have some Crocuses and there were a few small bee's going all over them. Another good sign

[BarleySugar]

We've seen quite a few, even at Wisley a couple of weeks ago when we went to see the butterflies at Wisley, there were a number aroung the Christmas box plants.

[Madasafish]

My hives all alive and well apart from 1 - lots of flying and pollen gathering...

[Madasafish]

Did a quick semi inspection last week when weather was warm:
of 9 colonies, 8 survived winter. All have two frames or more of honey (I stopped inspection at that point: I only wanted to ensure they had enough stores).

Saw some sealed brood in one hive: other will have some as well.

Interesting to see the flying habits this morning at 9am: dull, 9C, little wind but damp.

Hives of Carniolan bees: just flying but very few.
Hive of Buckfast/cross: LOTS flying
Hive of AMM /cross: lots flying..
Some queen breeding and requeening planned this year. Carniolans are very good natured but VERY swarmy..

[Helgalush]

I've not seen any honey bees yet but there is a massive bumble bee that keeps visiting the back garden. (First heard him yesterday when he bumped in to the window - and saw him out in the garden again today). I dont have anything in flower in my back garden - but there are crocuses in the front garden so hope he has enough food to keep going.

[Two_Sheds]

Me too covered in my hellebore pollen.

http://t.co/CCV70gW

Oh, can't see the link, I'm not authorised to view your page

[Two_Sheds]

Has anyone else seen honey bees out and about this year yet?

I saw one, and a comma butterfly, and oodles of ladybirds, on that sunny day (Sat?). No bumbles yet though

[Peas'n'Kews]

Huge bumble bee bumbling just today, and last week (THurs?) when the sun was shining so much I sat in the garden and read, we saw a tortoise shell butterfly.

We also still have white fly on the brassicas, but that's not quite so good, is it?? ;-)

[arpoet]

I've not seen any beas, but the midges were out this afternoon a greenfly landed on the back window.
Roger

[ecoprincess]

I saw a massive bumblebee today, was very pleased! Lots of ladybirds about when I was gardening today too, but not sure if it was just me disturbing them from hibernation!