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Since moving back home on the 10th, I've only seen 2 honeybees, one on the 1st day working the palm flowers along the driveway and another a few days later checking out one of the hibiscus'.
I'm back to thinking about acquiring a colony or two.
And speaking of dragonflies, every year or two we have one that patrols our yard with a resting spot on the antenna of my car.
This time, after I moved back in, we had one that was very disconcerted by my vehicle being added to it's territory without being given prior permission.
I've since pulled it into the garage to work on it.
We'll see what its reaction is when I pull it out and park it in its usual place again.
Don't think he's gonna like it.
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Was a Democrat until gun control became a knee jerk, then a Republican until the crazies took over, back to being a nonpartisan again.
This time, I can no longer participate in the primary.
Posts: 364
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Joined: Jun 2012
If you do get bees, learn about the pests that are here on island. I just got my first hive last month and have already learned the hard way about the horrors of small hive beetle. Opening the hive to find a maggot filled box of of slime is disgusting and heartbreaking.
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First im a master gardener, and an apiarist. And a swarm remover. I would be happy to educate you all about them. They are essential to our ecosystem period. They are under attack from many things. We dont need to feed them at all in Hawaii. No seasons and plenty food all year.
1v1 i have a spare hive for u for free. U will have to buy the bees ,about 125d. One of our best natural(non chemical) apiarist that teaches everybody Jen Rasmussen paradisenectar google it plz. Teaches hands on hive every month. She lost her place in Kapoho, and now is in honokaa. She has gentle bees a d doesnt use a veil. Bee keeping is a great bussiness and not a lot of work. You will be stung, just try to minimize it.
If you are serious, join master gardeners monthly hive service for free. BIBA is a great
Resource as well as CTHAR.
Pm me for more info
Aloha
Bee man dan
Dan D
HPP
HPP
Posts: 926
Threads: 131
Joined: Mar 2012
was beginning to plan on getting honey bees again.
Today was a nice, warm, still and calm day.
Looked up at the Alexander palm flowers.
They were full of honey bees gathering pollen and nectar.
Whoever the local beekeeper is, they're back in business again.
My fruit trees should bear nicely in the coming seasons.
I have watched the bees as they leave here for home.
If the new batch of bees go in the same direction as the previous batch, I'll trace where they're going.
Then, I can check to see if I need to get my own.
EDIT:
@dan d
I did see your offer of a hive.
I did not respond because things have been so up-in-the-air since the eruption began.
Plus, my plan was to build my own Langstroth hive[s] for as many as 2 apiaries in my back yard.
I did do a UHH evening Commumity Ed. class 2 or 3 years ago, and will do another refresher if I decide to go through with it.
I have a few other projects to get done before I jump into beekeeping.
Thank you for the offer, though.
If and when I do decide to take up bees, I will need to find references for where to acquire good healthy bees and a young queen from.
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Was a Democrat until gun control became a knee jerk, then a Republican until the crazies took over, back to being a nonpartisan again.
This time, I can no longer participate in the primary.
Posts: 364
Threads: 14
Joined: Jun 2012
If you're looking for more bee info, Jen Rasmussen's class is excellent. You will learn everything you need to know about beekeeping, particularly here in Hawaii. She also sells bees. She has an upcoming course. I took it last fall and it is a very good deal.
https://hilo.hawaii.edu/cce/classes/class/35
Posts: 926
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Joined: Mar 2012
I believe she was the instructor for the classes I took a while back.
If so, I was pleased with the quality of information offered.
The few times I've checked since then, someone else was doing them.
When I was looking into it before, the state was prohibiting the importation of honey bees.
Afraid of someone bringing in Africanized bees, I suppose.
But, with the advances being made in breeding disease resistant bees on the mainland and elsewhere, they are locking us into problems with diseases in Hawaiian hives.
Is there any progress being made in getting more resistant bees established here in Hawaii?
Little doubt that most of the health problems that bees are having is caused by the industrial beekeeping conditions so prevalent anymore.
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Was a Democrat until gun control became a knee jerk, then a Republican until the crazies took over, back to being a nonpartisan again.
This time, I can no longer participate in the primary.
