We have a large Buddleia bush in the garden which is coming to the end of its flowering season. The nectar must be ripe as I have nver seen so many insects taking in nectar from one plant.

It is covered in bumblebees, hover flies, numerous types of butterflies ( incl. Wood White / Red Admiral / Peacock and others I don’t know ) my honey bees and an insect I have no idea what it is.

Does anyone know what insect this is – see images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With a month to go until I have my honey stand at the Downham Market Water Festival, I thought it was time to design and get printed my honey jar labels.

You can buy standard labels from numerous beekeeping suppliers, but I think it more attractive to put together my own designs.

My early honey has the Orange label. The White label will go on jars from the early August extraction I make and the Yellow labels will go on the jars of Chunk honey. I have 3 supers in place for comb honey, so hopefully these will be nicely capped by the time I do the extraction. I bought some comb containers to sell individual pieces of comb honey plus I have 3 stands and boxes from the Honey Frame Packing Company. www.honeyframepackaging.co.uk  These make an attractive way to sell full frames of honey.

If anyone wants to order some labels – following my designs with your name address honey location etc. 

If you have photo you want to put on the label, I can drop this in for you.  Require image 300 dpi min 8cm wide or 72 dpi 20cm wide. 

If you would like labels made up or want to know more, contact me.

 

 

Thanks Yvonne for your comments on the Honey Jar labels I made up for you. Show both Yvonnes labels she asked for with her own photos on.

Still time if anyone else would like some made up.

 

 

 

 

I have inspected all my hives and see that things are progressing nicely in 7 out of 8 hives. Unfortunately one hive swarmed about 3 weeks ago.  It happens to us all !!  Though not happy it had swarmed it has given me the opportunity to replace some old frames of comb within the brood box. So at least once drawn the new queen will have some fresh clean comb to lay in.

The lime trees have stopped flowering, however the bees are disappearing off over the village to an unknown source. Though I have found some bees working the fragrant privet bushes in the hedge between me and my neighbour.

Weather still very warm here, though some rain is forecast to come up from the south west over the next week.  The bees have just over a month to fill the supers with honey, as my aim is to take off full supers for extraction around about the 9th August.  This will give me time to extract the honey, filter it and allow it to settle before putting into jars.  I have a small trade stand at the Downham Market Water Festival on Sunday 14th August and will need this honey to sell on the stand.