news: renovations, bees......
Thanks to my "bee friend" Wayan, who divided a colony in two, we finally have 3 hives with bees (Apis Cerana) in October 2017. The bees look healthy, all colonies are large and the honey combs are filled and hopefully provide enough food for the upcoming raining season.
In October there is normally very hot weather, so this year 2017 too. The garden is dry, but still we don't water too much. Saving water and let the plants feel the normal change during the year with a dry season. Some plants like our orchids like this time very much: they are in full bloom.
new and fresh paint for the walls at the veranda of the small bungalow as well as for the guest kitchen in March 2018.
usually you see monitor lizards on the ground or in the water. This one was high up in the bamboo opposite the Saraswati Holiday House garden. June 2018.
In February 2019 we put insect screens to all open ventilation windows (which are above the normal windows) in all sleeping rooms.
All insects and geckos must stay outside!
Our beekeeping place in the backyard.
During the year 2018 we changed all hives to a smaller size. The native bee apis cerana is smaller than apis mellifera and makes smaller colonies. So they feel better and grow well in smaller hives. In front some blossoms from viola local, a good source of protein. The bees collect pollen there at 9 o' clock in the morning. Healthy breakfast!
In September 2019 two bee swarms moved in. We have hanged empty hives in
our trees and without any lures they have chosen our place. After 4 weeks, the colonies and honeycombs look pretty good and healthy.
We harvested some honey in October. The last honey from dark honeycombs and the honey itself also dark. Next to it a glass of honey from
the harvest a few months earlier: light and now creamy. We harvest very little. Leave most for the bees themselves and only feed in times of need,
e.g. after a long rainy season, only moderately with palm sugar syrup.