September Splendour

This statuesque cone-flowering hydrangea creates an impressive skyline against the walnut tree canopy. Such an unexpected treat at the end of summer, invigorating with fresh cream and lime  flower heads towering above the the early autumn sedum. Here nature effortlessly creates dramatic effect - an architects dream!

For love of The Rowan

 

A wonder tree renowned for its cure of 'The Monday Morning Blues'; please allow me to introduce 'The Rowan'.

 

 

 

Equally as stunning in silhouette!

 

Summer Glory

The scent of autumn is in the air.  On reflection, the summer has been variable, but for the moment it's well worth reflecting on the highlights.

It's no secret that roses are my passion; this stunning stage set with sage accenting the roses was captured early one morning. The magical light reflection from the simple sage is seriously underrated, but this picture begs to differ!

 

This eerie is my seat of reflection. From this vantage point I can hover,free as a bird, and absorb the natural world in all its glory!

Born Athlete

Vulcan in full flight on his fifth birthday, poised and ready for take-off!

Beloved Banba RIP

Our last sighting of Banba was two weeks ago.  On the same inspection we found a hatched queen cell, the hive had decided that it was time to supercede their gentle, trusty Queen.  After careful consideration we took the decision not to intervene but to let nature take its course.  In colony life this means that the young Queen will kill her mother to claim the role of hive matriach.

 

 

Yesterday's inspection revealed that the hatched Virgin Queen has indeed killed Banba, sadly it appears that the young Queen has perished too.  The Virgin flight is very risky for a young Queen who is at the mercy of predators such as dragonflies.  Survival of the Queen-less hive now depends upon us successfully introducing a new Queen this week.  Warm and temperate, weather conditions are favorable; it is possible that a new Queen will be able to lay upto four thousand eggs over the next four weeks, vital if the hive are to survive the winter.  Tense times for us all...

 

 

Yellow spot marks Queen Diana



 

Change in the Air

 This summer may have produced a record crop of Olympic Golds for team GB, but it has been an unusual season for honey-bees, with a reported sixty per cent reduction in honey production! Local conditions can vary greatly; against the odds, our two hives have produced an amazing 175lbs of honey this year.
.

 

 

We have been on an emotional roller-coaster with our reigning Queens, Banba and Cleo; the untimely loss of young Queen Cleo in May left her prolific hive Queen-less. Luckily our new Buckfast Queen, Diana, has proved herself a worthy successor; the hive have amassed a staggering 75lb of honey in the twelve weeks between June and August. The bees' complex communication system has kicked in, the location of the kitchen process plant is now clearly on their flight path!  It is not unusual, as the honey flows, to be serenaded in 'Buzz' by our curious stripey friends!