Yesterday, the 10 year old and I cracked open the bee hives to remove the Queen boxes from within and place the brood frame back in.
When we opened it, there were two veils of wild comb hanging from the lid.
I find it so amazing how obsessive compulsive the bees are, that they fill in a void in the hive to make sure that everything is consistant and complete.
I was surprised how much wild comb they had already constructed given they have only been here for 2 weeks. Unfortunately, in order to place the brood frame in the hive I had to remove the wild comb.
When I broke off the biggest draping veil of comb, I found that it was full of brood at all different stages of development. I felt so guilty that I took out a brood frame from one of the ends and placed the wild veil into an end slot. This way, I won't loose the brood that is already laid but I can also work the hive if it is just one end that is wild.
After removing the Queen boxes and getting everything settled, the 10 year old and I were sitting in the garden talking about what we had found, and eating some of the fresh uncapped honey that was on the wild comb. It was delicious, and we enjoyed every bite.
While enjoying one of the last bites, my phone rang, and it was a neighbor about 8 blocks away who said they had a swarm in their bushes. They knew to call me because of a previous conversation that we had had when they told me that they had a swarm in their eaves, and wanted me to remove it. But that is another story...
Anyway, I told them I would be right there.
The 10 year old and I loaded up the jeep with all of our equipment and were on our way.
We found the swarm in a hedge about 4ft off of the ground. I took my big plastic storage box and cut the branch. The bees fell in the box and I put the lid on it. Easy as pie!
We brought them home and I went scrounging for an extra hive.
In about 15 minutes I had a piecemeal hive put together and we sprayed the swarm with some sugar water and dumped them in the hive.
I couldn't believe how easy it was!
About 5 minutes later there were bees all over the backyard. Just as if they were about to swarm again. I wasn't sure what to do, I was pretty sure I had gotten the Queen, but in reality there was really nothing I could do.
Hubby convinced me to go to the store with him, saying they would be here when we got back or they wouldn't. He was right, so we went to the store.
Low and behold when we got back, they were gone. RATS!!
After unloading the car, I told hubby I wanted to go back to the neighbors and see if there were any stragglers on their hedge.
We cruised down (box in the back) and sure enough there were some bees on the hedge.
I clipped the branch dropped them into the box and brought them home and dumped them into the hive box.
By the time the sun set I wasn't real hopeful that I had the Queen in either bunch, and chalked it all up to an interesting day.
This morning after I came down for my second cup of coffee, I thought I would go and check out the hive. As I approached the box I saw lots of activity and when I got around to the front with much joy I discovered dozens of bee's going in and out of the entrance!!!! YIPPEEE!!
I really don't know what happened. I don't know when I actually got the Queen, I don't whether she left and came back, I just don't know.
What I do know was that with all of that drama, and a little effort, I now have a new colony!
5 comments:
I love your site. I hope to come to see you and your bees soon. The first nice day we have when you are home. It would have to be a weekend. The garden sounds so exciting too. Maybe it will give Jimmy the little lift he needs to see what he can still get going even though it is late for some things. We have asparagus that we planted a few years ago and it is coming up so fast and furious and is so YUMMY and tender. Now you have me in the mood if I can just work around this w/c. My friend in Maine who is a Master Gardener and an Herbalist is just getting her bees going. She is the one that has the Suxtabee Fat tea and the Suxtabee Stiff,Bent & Gnarled Potion. I will bring you some of the Stiff & Gnarled tea as you said you are sore from all the gardening. It is great with some good honey *smile* Did you start any Rosemary yet? If not I will bring you some of mine. Can you root a branch if I get a good one going? I will look it up. It sounds like your friend Donna is very knowledgeable as you are and I am trying to remember when you plant by the light of the moon. We have a full moon coming up this Saturday. Oh and we do have some cranberries and Raspberries coming up too. Not sure how Cranberries will work I though you had to grow them under water but Jimmy said they are out there I can't wait to be able to go look at everything. Great site and full of great stories. Thanks for sharing. ;~) Red Robin
Hi Robin, I'll try to explain the way I plant in the light or dark of the moon. Anything that grows above ground I plant from the day of the new moon to the day before the moon is full, this is the light side of the moon. Anything that grows below the ground I plant from the day after it's full to the day before it's new again, this is the dark side of the moon. Believe me, it does matter. So if you have cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, corn or anything else that grows above ground, it should be planted before this Sunday.
All of this rain we're having is making my garden happy happy happy. I just hilled my potatoes up on Wednesday and noticed today I've got to find a break in the rain to go out and hill them up again tomorrow. I just planted 3 year old asparagus crowns this year and they are coming up faster than I can put dirt over them. Next spring we should have an excellent crop. It's one of my favorite vegetables.
I'm interested in knowing how you make out with the cranberries, I too thought they had to be grown in a bog. Please keep us posted.
I have to make sure I can get Himself back here before the full moon.
What will happen if I plant the potatoes on Sunday? or Monday????
His wife said that he is busy!!!
Maybe I can talk him into letting me run it.
But he has the same issues I do about lending tools.
If it's mine and I break it I can only be pissed at myself.
If it's mine and someone else breaks, I don't want to be pissed at them.
You will be fine with potatoes because you will be planting in the dark of the moon. To be honest I have never planted against the moon phases so I don't not exactly sure what will happen. More than likely your crop won't fare as well. I've always found it best to work with the forces of nature rather than against.
OK Good!
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