Suddenly every conversation I have sounds like one I am having with my dentist as he probes my mouth and blythely asks “how’s life?”. Now, that would be the “old world” since dentists were the only ones wearing masks but now with everyone wearing masks and talking through plexi-glass every interaction takes on a “wa wa wa” sound. Doubly so when I make a dip into the drive-thru and the questions and answers are filtered through a fuzzy speaker! I suddenly realize that we all lip read to some degree and the casual non-sequiturs and digressions leave me wondering what on earth was said. A mask is not mandatory but I sometimes wonder if I might be further ahead just wearing my bee suit all day. Actually I just might do that to see what kind of reaction I get. Stay tuned.
The weather has been clear and hot giving us the prospect of a warm September evening for our small groups to meet once more in an outdoor setting. We will maintain social distancing and if you would like to sport your favourite mask then show your style. Watch for an email from your small group coordinator with info of time and place during this coming week.
Thank you to Dave MacDonald, who is moving on from his inspector role managing his own apiaries full time. We appreciated his straightforward advice and the informative presentations he made to the club over the last couple of years. Please welcome Tara Galpin as our new Apiary Inspector for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Tara can be reached at islandapiaryinspector@telus.net. She, too, lives on Saltspring Island and we look forward to meeting her as needs bring her to Victoria and the south Island.
If you have had hives up in the clearcuts feeding on Fireweed, it’s time to bring them home. The blooms have been exhausted and the bees are consuming the honey they have collected. Also beware, the hunters will be out in full force by September 12th, looking for deer and bear. They are already cruising the forest roads, walking trails and checking game cameras.
It’s time to treat the bees for mites now that the honey supers are off and make sure they have sufficient honey stores left in place to make it through the fall. Hoping your hives are strong going into fall and that they can fend off the wasps during these warm days.
Bee calm. Bee kind. Bee safe.
As a reminder, watch for an email invite from the host of your small group:
- Victoria hosted by Carolyn H
- Oak Bay/Gordon Head hosted by Bill F
- Saanich and Saanich North hosted by Don L and Cindy P
- Vic West hosted by Nicole S
- Langford/Metchosin/Colwood hosted by Werner G