1st Delia

Another warm has bought about the flowering of many late summer flowers. Here this means, Marjoram, Crocosmia Peppermint and Dahlias. The latter being todays topic.
We still await another swarm as our swarm box is being scouted by a number of colonies. This time of year it is often a cast swarm. We have successfully over wintered these by not being greedy and taking all the honey. And letting bees collect and store ivy nectar, which sets in the frame.
This has the added bonus of being able to leave the bees in peace all winter, knowing they have a super of honey