#phippshoneys

[teeteebeezie]

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Looking back at my video notes from the last four months, it's easy to see how the Phipps Observation Hive queenie's abdomen has really decreased in width and length after she abruptly stopped laying in mid-September right when the brief fall flow really cut back hard. Even with the size reduction, her attendants are still grooming/feeding her well. We've been giving this indoor hive some supplemental pollen to see if it would stimulate a little additional bee brood rearing but this queen seems on holiday for the rest of the 2016 season. They do seem to have adequate overwintering bee population since they live at +60 degree F all year and can be fed 2:1 syrup consistently. Currently they are taking down that cane sugar feed + HBH +1/2 strength Complete. #bees #beekeeping @phippsconservatory #phippshoneys #queenbee #pamperedbees #luckygirls (at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens)

[teeteebeezie]

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8.27.16 Waggle Dance Decode : So per the sun position at 3:15pm today which was +/- S 45d W, apparently there's a good yield of white grey pollen not far off to due west of the Phipps Observation hive, probably in Panther Hollow/ Schenley Park. Thistles are still yielding a bit but Jimson Weed and Panicle Hydrangea also blooming as well. @phippsconservatory #phippshoneys #waggledancedecode #beebloom2016 (at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens)

[teeteebeezie]

This Observation Hive is made up of four deep frames strategically stacked so that the open space for storing upcoming fall nectar flow is the two higher frames and brood chamber is the primarily the lower two frames. Maintaining a balance of population level can be tricky in these hives. We need to keep their numbers up this time of year to have sufficient nurse bees to raise the strong overwintering bees but if these bees hit a heavy fall flow it's not unknown for nucs to swarm in late August or early September from small enclosures like this one. Constant monitoring will help us keep tabs on flow and population levels if we may need to make adjustments. It's pretty tedious to load bees into this sort of hive so hopefully we can leave them alone to find their own balance. #bees #beekeeping #phippshoneys #observationhive #beeteamwork (at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens)

[teeteebeezie]

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@phippsconservatory 4f Observation hive had a smooth installation today at the SEED classroom. The bees were very calm during the whole loading process and placement of the monitoring sensors around the brood chamber. We waited until the glazing was installed and the frames were stable before placing the queen in from the feeder opening at the top. #bees #beekeeping #phippshoneys #observationhive #arnia #beemonitoring (at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens)