June 8, 2014…Bee-atrice has BEES. It’s been a rough time for her, but I think this one will take.
June 16, 2014…10th day of bees in Bee-atrice Log Hive. I think they will stay this time.
While I was out of town, a huge prime swarm chose Bee-atrice Log Hive for a home. I knew if we waited long enough, we’d get lucky…I just wish I could have witnessed the swarm moving in. Bee-atrice was happy. She had been rejected twice. I had tried to console her after she had been rejected by two small swarms that I had given her. I told her that “rejection” might more appropriately be referred to as “redirection.” Those small swarms would not have made it anyway. I told her that she just had to be patient until the right swarm came along.
April 27, 2014…I drop the little cast swarm into Bee-atrice log hive. They stay a total of two days, then take off for parts unknown.
May 25, 2014…A second chance presents itself, in the form of a swarm in the apple tree. I bag it and drop it into Bee-atrice. I thought for sure it would stay, but after 8 days, it took off for the Asian Pear tree. I started thinking something was wrong with Bee-atrice…then it dawned on me…maybe I was the problem. Maybe I should just back off and let nature take it’s course…thirteen days later (while I’m away), a huge swarm picks out Bee-atrice. She later tells me, SHE rejected those little swarms, not the other way around. I guess she didn’t want to hurt my feelings.
June 9. 2014…lots of bee traffic at the entrance.
June 10, 2014…This is the first time I’ve ever seen 94F degrees (34C) register on the thermometer. This is the optimal temperature for brood. Three days ago it read 60 degrees (the ambient temperature)
June 9, 2014…the bees can be seen through the observation window. If they stay, we’ll be able to watch the comb building process.
June 16, 2014…10th day, natural comb can be seen already, through the top side entrance.
June 19, 2014…Day 13, this is where the bees hang out at night while they are waiting for the comb to be built.
June 19, 2014…Day 13, in this slightly out of focus shot, you can see how far the bees have built the natural comb…almost to the top of the observation window…a length of about 14 inches (35 cm).
Drones dropping down every time I uncover the observation window…
Getting her ready for a swarm last year.
Two month’s later Bee-atrice’s swarm chooses Bee Beard Log Hive
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 