The herb-garden way of propagating lavender is completely no-nonsense. It is also very successful and so easy that you can let the kiddos do it if you please. It is miles away from complicated selecting of plant material, sterilising secateurs, using rooting powder and heated rooting mats that you can read about if you google ‘Propagating lavender’ today. You can do it without any tools at all, and there are no pots required either! And very little, if any, mollycoddling of the little plant babies. It’s a win-win for the busy and cash strapped gardener!
MorePropagating lavender – easy way to grow your own lavender
The importance of mentoring
Halfway into my first summer as a beekeeper a man in a white van drove up and parked outside my gate. He got out of the van, opened the gate and without as much as a hello uttered: ’You have bees.’ That encounter was the start of a long, enriching and wonderful friendship. The man in the van was Leo, and he was to become my mentor over the next few years. Until the playing-field was levelled, and we became partners in crime.
I always thought of mentoring as something other people availed of, probably a bit too fancy for me. And anyway, I have always had a rebellious mind and was never too keen on taking advice or accepting authorities. I just never though that mentoring was for me! I was going to create my own path in life and learn from my own mistakes. And then Leo opened that gate and let himself in.
MoreWhy is propolis important for bees?
Honeybees are experts at collecting plant resins and turning them into propolis. But what is it that makes propolis so special? Why is propolis so important for honeybees, and what do they do with it?
MoreWhy are some bees aggressive?
Far more common than aggression, are bees that are defensive, agitated, disturbed, hungry, frightened, alarmed, stressed or restless. In dealing with a colony that appears aggressive, we must first figure out why they are acting or reacting the way they are. Only then can we deal with them appropriately.
MoreDo bees drink water?
Honeybees collect water, but what do they do with it? Drink it? This blog dives into the hive to explore the many uses for water in bee colonies.
MoreBait hives to lure swarms – Guest Blog by Keith Pierce
The ultimate guide for how to set up bait hives to lure swarms. From size & location to scout bees & attractants. Guest blog by Keith Pierce.
MoreHive records for beekeepers
Hive records are essential to beekeeping & a very useful tool. Good record keeping will help you understand what happens in a colony and why.
MoreStarting Beekeeping – 11 things you need to know
Interested in starting beekeeping?
Keeping a hive of honeybees at the end of the garden might sound like a lovely, relaxing, wholesome experience. Perhaps you’re dreaming about bees buzzing around the garden collecting nectar all summer long, and then getting a few pots of sweet honey at the end of the year. Sounds wonderful, right?
Well, beekeeping isn’t really like that.
MoreIrish Beekeeping Suppliers – Directory
A complete and up-to-date directory of Irish beekeeping suppliers and manufacturers. Let’s shop in Ireland and support our small local businesses.
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