What a dreadful day, low cloud and persistent rain. Then about 4pm the cloud cleared to give us a lovely evening of blue skies and sunshine. Having not seen my bees out for 2 or 3 days I went and had a look at all the hives. What a sound, the air was alive to the constant buzz of bees. I knew then the hives were alive.  I had feeders in place on most hives, but generally they were not taking it down. I can only assume the early nectar they had stored was efficient for their needs so they didn’t starve. Some bees were in the open aperture of the rapid feeders, but I was not having to refill daily.

The weather forecast for next week in West Norfolk is much better, still some showers but nothing like we have had this week plus it is getting warmer. ( 18c tomorrow ) I have measured 5 inches of rain this week, I wrote in the blog this would happen as soon as hose pipe ban was put in place. Sods law !!

Hopefully now the bees can have a week on the Oil Seed Rape. With some luck this early season won’t be a total disaster and I might get some honey off.  What ever way I will have to do an extraction as soon as OSR stops flowering, otherwise what honey is in place will set like concrete, then no good for me or the bees.

The garden alive to the sound of bees this evening.

A rapid feeder in place, bees can be seen in the central aperture. ( Photo from book )