Category Archives: Climate

Our Hottest Day

Posted on August 10, 2018 by Ron Miksha

My home town, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, just set a record for heat. In all the past decades of weather-watching here, we’ve never been as hot as it was today. Ever. (In recorded history.) Officially, it reached 37C, which is over … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate | Tagged , | 35 Comments

Expecting the unexpected

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Ron Miksha

For the past two days, I described how we might predict a future honey flow. I mentioned how difficult soothsaying can be yet I went on to say that experience and a tool like a scale hive can help us … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Yards, Beekeeping, Climate, Commercial Beekeeping | Tagged , | 14 Comments

How to predict the honey flow

Posted on August 2, 2018 by Ron Miksha

This post will be disappointing to anyone hoping for a quick and easy way to predict what the honey flow will bring. There is no substitute for experience. It may take years to gain the knowledge you’ll need because every … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Commercial Beekeeping, History, People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Peak Dandelion

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Ron Miksha

For a lot of temperate-climate beekeepers, dandelions are the peak of the spring season.  Their bloom marks the point where hives are finally getting much stronger, nectar is pouring in, and the dandelions’ massive gifts are giving a fine boost … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Climate, Ecology, Honey Plants | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Pollen Specks

Posted on April 26, 2018 by Ron Miksha

Yesterday, I saw the first pollen of the year carried by bees in our area.  It’s almost May! Local bees have been without fresh pollen for over six months.  The pollen specks which I saw were pitifully specky. If you … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Ecology, Honey Plants | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Better Bees

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Hungary, where I am today, has a long beekeeping history. Honey bees have been part of the ecology for thousands of years. Here, they are indigenous species whereas in the Americas (and Australia, New Zealand, and much of Asia), the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Climate, Culture, or lack thereof, Ecology, Genetics, Science | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bees with Beards

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Ah, the bearded hive. With our current heatwave, beards are in fashion among beehives here in Calgary. Last week, I was called to the home of some new beekeepers. The front of their two-story hive was completely masked by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Humour | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

First Exit of Bumblebees (A Video)

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Ron Miksha

https://youtu.be/ERGjXpbCj14 Do you have a minute? You might enjoy this video, First exit of bumblebees, filmed (and scored) by Mukibrain. When he sent me his link, the producer wrote, “I would like to share with you the latest video by … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Movies | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Daffodils in December?

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Cherry trees in Washington bloom around April March first. Things are changing. Erik, a beekeeper/writer/blogger in northern Virginia keeps a nice online calendar showing flowering dates in his neighbourhood. It’s only a couple of years old so it just gives … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Honey Plants | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Can’t Get it out of the Comb?

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Ron Miksha

The American Bee Journal  published a timely piece in their August issue. It just hit my mailbox. The article is about avoiding granulated honey in your extracting frames. It’s written by your favourite bee-blogger. Me. I’m not going to repeat … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Commercial Beekeeping, Honey | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments