Hello SOBA friends- Greetings from Arkansas

[LaurieB]

Hi All, or is it y'all,
I guess you are still dealing with SHB. I am in Arkansas now and have yet to see one. I have 2 hives that are small but productive, very docile and very sturdy so far. In fact, today I saw them throw a cow killer out of the hive.
www.honeybeecreek.com blog page
They are even managing with an argiope spider on the hive....see blog pics as well. I hope you are all fairng well. I haven't heard from anyone, so if y'all wanna give me a holler I would love to hear from you.
Your former treasurer (2005-2006),
Laurie Boyce

[goldinmyear]

How do you keep your bees from being blown away?
We have Black Widows here, I don't mind if there dwelling in my hive, that is the empties.) Are wasps are freaken huge here,and
the only way to keep them at bey...is to kill them in the winter...
when there Hybernating. They love to take refuge in an empty hive. Honey production here is fantastic, we have wild pea vetch,
black berries,star thistle, pear orchards,and a variety of mustards.
dandy lions,oregon grape,white holly,well you get the picture.. I have about 45 hives. I just do it because I enjoy the outdoor life. hope to hear from ya soon...

[LaurieB]

To answer the question regarding keeping the hives from blowing away.....well, number one, nothing holds up to a tornado, except not being in it. As for the terrible 60 to 90 mph straight line winds we get coming off of the plains, I have learned a couple of tricks. My hives are all tucked in behind cedars that are low and stout. This blocks a lot of wind. Then, using a sheep hitch or some other fancy knot, some rope and some rebar, we literally stake them down to the ground like some kind of boxy wood tent. So far, careful placement has spared my hives recently, but I did have one blow over in a freak wind coming from the non-prevalent direction when the remnants of a hurricane blew over. Most of the time, the hives do fine. With warmer weather sneaking in and out through the summer months, the bees get needed breaks to clean out and forage fresh water even in January and February. They don't always break cluster, but I notice that the strong hives will take advantage of every warm day. Now rain....like last years record 80 inches....is a whole other story. This summer is hot, hot, hot, but the crimson clover and blackberry came on strong and thick. The season kicks off in February with heavy pollen loads in the cedars and is followed up with service berry and sumac blooms. Right now it is dearth city, but they have stores and will get the late honeysuckle, privet and a few other things that bloom until the season ends in November. They usually go dormant in the first or second week of November and are up and buzzing by the 1st week of March. I am still trying to figure out where they forage, as it is not often on our 15 acres.