Posted by Surreybeekeeper | Posted in Allotment, Gardening, Seeds, Spring | Posted on 13-02-2011
As my eyes start to see the daffodils starting to show their little bulbous heads and the snowdrops lighting up the area underneath the willow tree and hope that it will not be too long before the crocuses start to come into flower. These after all are fabulous flowers for bees.
Apart from that it is the start of my own growing season in the garden and on the allotment. Thanks to Seedparade I have got lots of different seeds this year and have already starting sowing. This blog is my own diary for what I am planting and when so sorry to you beekeeping people. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Surreybeekeeper | Posted in Allotment, Autumn, Gardening | Posted on 10-10-2010
Sorry for this but it is a small reminder for me when I did small bits to the garden for next year!
Today was a glorious day and it was a true Autuminal day. Lovely rich sunshine, low in the sky bouncing off the few remaining flowers. Lovely, I was a very happy man.
Jobs that I did today….. Read the rest of this entry »
I feel like I have changed. In just three days I realised how obsessive beekeeping can become. 
Firstly, on Saturday I took my parents up to the hives to show them what I had been working on for the last 6 months. I have to say, I think they were impressed but I couldn’t really tell as I was basically talking at them for about half an hour.
I then proceeded to sit them down behind the hives and get them to watch the bees flying in and out of the hive; for about 10 minutes. Needless to say they enjoyed the first 10 seconds but I am not sure longer than that was needed. Read the rest of this entry »
Well today has been an interesting day…….
I had a lovely day with the family today with Sebastian meeting up with all his mates and having a whale of a time just larking about. Amazing the transition in just 20 months and now seeing the little characters coming out and long term friendships settling in. Even more amazing was the moment that Sebastian walked up to Jo, bottom lip out and quivering. “Bee” was the word being uttered as his little eyes started to well up a little. Immediately we started to see what the matter was by stripping him off and checking he was okay (just thinking that he was trying to learn the alphabet really). As we took off his sleeve, sure enough a little bumble bee just flew out, completely unharmed. Sebastian very quickly started smiling again and shouting “bee” at the top of his voice. After a little check no stings were discovered and we all concluded that the bee was playing hide and seek for a little while up Sebastian’s arm. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by jamesdearsley | Posted in Book Review | Posted on 16-02-2010
……a proud moment for me today. Sebastian can now buzz like a bee when asked what noise a bee makes! Fantastic to see and I just have to take video of it at some point.
Something else happened today @richardfreeman wrote back to me and I now feel incredibly guilty (please read my other posts about “Anticipation“) as the reason he wasn’t getting back to me was the fact that his eldest child was in hospital. This is also the reason why he wants to give up his bees……I have to take my foot well out of my mouth and apologise as I think Richard took it the wrong way. Oops. Must think before I blog and not get too excited. My naivety has show through like a beacon of light!
I have accelerated my thoughts today of making this all into a book. Not sure where this could lead to. There doesn’t seem to be a lot around talking about experience with bees in the first year – only textbook style books that are rather inpractical……..lets see what I can come up with.
Hope everyone is well.
PS. I got given a bee mug for valentines day from the wife. How nice is that? Will have a cuppa from it tonight.
Posted by jamesdearsley | Posted in Birds | Posted on 22-12-2009
I am sitting here at my study looking out of the window to an amazing view of the fields and just looking at a fa
My new visitor for 2009
nstastic Mistle thrush just sitting on top of my garden wall. She seems to have decided this year is the year to show an appearance in my garden and it is all the better for it. They are a beautiful bird but she is not the only new visitor this year. I have also seen lots of pied wagtails which don’t usually venture into the garden. I am also convinced that I saw a sparrowhawk this morning wizzing through my garden chasing after some poor little sparrows and blue tits. I have never seen one before but its flight was majestic. Read the rest of this entry »
