We are now having essentially half days of rain and sleet and the other half a day partial sun. It makes for an interesting challenge in terms of my planning strategy. The weeds are merrily growing right along in spite if the peculiar weather patterns. To that end, we got stuck in cleaning the beetroot bed. We are taking a chance planting these runner beans...but a calculated chance. Although there was a thunderstorm with rain, as soon as it had finished, I dove into the bees for a looksy. They were quite active, as you can see so there were fewer bees inside the hives which made it easier for me to find the queens and inspect the frames. I also cut out the dar brood where in the varroa mites nestle. This went on top of the feeding station for the tits to plunder. The larvae are good for the hatchlings and the adults as well. That little guy can so easily finesse the larvae out of their snug-fitting cells. It is so amazing to watch. While we were taking a leedl break, my Bride came up with this idea—a water giver totem. It works and means less back and forth to the greenhouse to get them. In the canal, Mother Coot brought her young by to introduce them to us. It was an odd site seeing the little ones sitting on that bit of plastic that blew in from somewhere up the way. I hope the wind will dislodge it so that I can lift it out of the water. It is just out of reach at the moment. The dove pair dropped in for a meal. The brem is in full bloom now. I could see many bees in the hive covered with the pollen. The apple buds that I showed a week or so ago have now opened up and are putting on quite a show. The coots are caling it a day and heading back to their nest for a nights’ rest.
@Sjoerd Nice post. Lucky for you, you can plant pole beans. I and every gardener around here only plant bush beans. Pole beans just don’t do well because of the strong winds we sometimes get. The flowers are destroyed so there is very little production.
Ach Odif, I had never thought of that. I can see where you are coming from about the winds and bean blossoms though. Well, the bush beans are a perfect answer for your situation. I will say that living on the banks of the old zuyder zee we get frequent wind storms as well, and sometimes our wigwams blow right over. It is just lucky that we don’t get the wind at blossom time ...usually. I must have my beans, so with this climate change, I may have to go back to bush beans; but for now I am lazy and like those climbers so I don’t have to bend over to pick ‘em. BTW mate, what are your favourite bush beans?
Sjoerd my favourite bush beans are purple amethyst. They turn green when cooked though. They are quite tall for bush beans. They need to be staked and held up with strings along the rows. I still have some bottled beans from last year.
Thanks Odif. I know this bean sort. I can’t remember the taste though. Ach, I like all beans so perhaps the taste thing isn’t so important. Just curious. I am freshly out of my own beans now.
