Soooo, we wandered into tiger country again yesterday, back to my hobby hives (no fiscal gain ever) the kamahi, tawari, putaputaweta & manuka are all flowering harder than we’ve ever seen. White everywhere. We’d been there last on 11 November, one had swarmed, himselfs hunting mate saw it go overhead, the rest had just got on with it. A few boxes later and me telling the girls how clever they are, as well as a bet with himself that the girls will fill the boxes I’d slapped on them with glee.
The honey will be very light and tasty this year. The Rewarewa didn’t flower well, the Manuka flowers but isn’t the right stuff & doesn't get a look in when there’s tastier options. Don’t care! The deer have been frolicking around the hives again, keeping the grass down & left evidence of a very recent visit. I only saw 13 wekas. Maybe they’re going for a second lot of babies this year. The pigeons are clustering in 2s, 3s & 4s. Heard the robins again but don’t see them because the bush is pretty thick. The tui were also really noisy.
2 1/2 hours in, the metal side roads are better than State highway 2, 2 1/2 + hours out, the State highways worse going home (it’s the laden side). The most tiring part was 3/4 hour on SH2 both ways.
