Today and next Wednesday on the Apiary

Today, Saturday, we treated hives 1 to 6 with "Api Var Life" Varroa treatment.  This the first time that either Colin or I have used it.  We found that the "biscuits of the compound were very brittle and care in handling was required.  A pocket of fine nylon net, or similar, to contain the Varroicide and fixed to the top of the frames with a drawing pin might help.  I think I'll try this next Wednesday on the hives yet to be treated.  Another problem we found was that wearing gloves, as many Beekeepers do, you can easily crumble the biscuit or drop it between the frames.  The technique we've developed that gives most control is to pick it up with the end of your hive tool then carefully slide it onto the top bar of the frame.  We fitted a super with no frames above the brood chamber, an unventilated crown board on top of that, the existing super free of bees atop that and then the roof.  The idea is to prevent the fumes from the varroicide tainting the honey, nectar and combs in the super which will be returned to the bees when the treatment is over.
Winter feeding is due during September, I'll make up some 2:1 sugar syrup and we've already purchased some proprietary syrup, (Ambrosia"), both of which will be fed through Miller feeders.  We'll compare the home-made with the purchased syrup to see if it's worth the money.  The theory is - there's loads of sealed brood ready to hatch, and in some of the hives plenty of empty comb so all the colonies should find somewhere to store the feed and this will slow the queen down and get the colony as well prepared as possible for winter, stores -wise.
Visitors to the Apiary whose last visit was more than a couple of weeks ago will find a few surprises.  We've started work on our woodland garden - expect bluebells, daffodils, primroses etc. but the major project now underway is the pond, we're talking 6m x 4m folks!  To fit it in we've had to divert the path slightly, adjacent to hives 5 & 6, but the diversion takes the path through a tunnel of foliage, very romantic, to emerge at the end of the pond where there'll  be a bog area.  If you have any expertise in this area of gardening, in fact even if you don't, share your ideas with us on aquatic plantings and on the construction of what I am confident will be a major attraction in the garden.
Next Saturday Nicki Gammans of the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust will be delivering a talk.  I'm not sure what else is planned but there'll be the usual tea and cakes and the usual beekeeping gossip.
Barry