Comb on the outside of the hive

This evening we enjoyed some dinner with our friends and neighbors, D and Robin. Jamie had gone back to the house to do some work on the garden and came back over to tell me that there was something going on with one of my hives. (the one that seemed to have a swarm underneath)
Donning my gear I took the hive apart.
For several days I didn't see much activity at the front of this particular hive. There is a crack at the rear which I know bees had been using for an entrance, but the activity at either of these entrances was too low to indicate that there were very many bees here. Looking at the beautiful comb I found on the bottom, outside the hive body I can see why there wasn't activity at the entrances.

I shook off the majority of the bees and set about determining the severity of the situation.

As I was looking at the comb that the bees built under the hive I spotted the Queen - thank God she was marked with her blue dot or I'd not have seen her. She was on the outside of the hive, and she'd been busy - I estimate that there were at least 25 capped brood cells and at least 100 uncapped larvae in several stages of growth. There was no way to save this larvae, so it's currently in our freezer so I can show it to our neighbor kids. Both Jamie and I were profoundly sad at the loss we experienced.  We did, however, really like seeing a full super of 8 frames of capped honey!

Once the comb was removed from the bottom board and the Queen was back in the hive I put it together and hoped I didn't squish the Queen (like I'm sure I did last year). I hope that this setback doesn't reduce the health or vitality of this hive. It would be a shame to lose another hive (that would make three).

I am thankful I didn't get stung and appreciated that I Jamie to help take pictures. Normally I have to do that by myself...and having someone around made everything so much easier!

Swarm of bees : #5 of the season

This is the fifth swarm we've had in our yard this year.  Number 4 was either just before or just after this one.  Jamie saw it, I didn't. He said it was high up in the trees and by the time he could call me to come out it was already moving on. 

Our friends Tom and BJ need a swarm and if one is withing a retrievable height I'm to call them right away.  Number 5 for the year was too high to retrieve.  

Jamie was the first to notice this swarm.  I really hope it's not any of my bees...but only because that would mean I'd have an unmarked Queen left in my hive and my marked Queen would be on her way to her new palace.

Swarm of bees : #3 of the season

We witnessed our third swarming activity today.  In terms of swarming, that's not really what these bees are doing, they're really just hanging out underneath this hive.  I'm not sure why.  Right now I'm not sure I care why...because it's really interesting.  If I had to guess, I'd venture to say that the Queen of either this or some other hive is in the middle of this ball of bees. 

Bees are a quirky bunch.  They never do what you'd expect them to do and they always seem to be up to something.  This year, as I have mentioned, I've been staying out of the hives.  My eagerness last year to be in there all the time led to some prett serious consequences. 

Most people don't want their bees to swarm.  Call me crazy, but I do.  I kind of like the fact I get to experience and witness some really interesting behavior.  And I get to document it so other people can learn without having to dress up in a white jacket and veil.

Adventure : C & O Canal

Six straight days of beautiful weather warranted an adventure - not that I don't love yardwork - but all work and no play makes Carlee a dull girl.  I've been dying to get out to the C&O Canal for a while, it's not too far a drive and it's somewhere I can take the dogs.

Today was Lady's turn to get out for some exercise.  Taking the dogs out for their exercise means I'm also getting mine, and Cancun is right around the corner.

The trailhead where I parked was being worked on and I took the path to the left of the construction area.  Not having visited this trail before I didn't know how close I would get to the Potomac - which wasn't all that close.  (Granted we only did a 15 minute run and turned around).  Stagnant water was abundant so whenever I stopped to let the dog rest we were dive bombed by mosquitos.  I forgot bug spray.  Again. 

There was a port-a-potty on the trail near a camping area, the first hiker-biker campsites begin in this section and the area is first come, first served.  Each camping area also his a water pump.  Although I didn't see anyone but another jogger, it seems that this trail is popular.

On our way back to the car, I found a very large feather. When I was a kid I remember that I used to collect feathers at my grandparent's property in Salem, Oregon, and was quite proud of my stash. I had to resist the urge to pick this one up and carry it like a child would carry cotton candy.

The path was not all that exciting or challenging and given I only did a short run here I know I missed some things, a ton of things actually.  There is quite a bit to see and quite a bit of history.  I am considering going to the Monocacy Aqueduct tomorrow. 

Something else that has me intrigued and interested is riding the entire 184 miles.  On a bike.  There are several options for those ambitious enough to do this trip.  I doubt Jamie would be too keen on me doing something like this, but I have to admit there is a small twinge of excitement just considering the idea.

I love the look of sheer bliss on Lady's face.

The swarm

So, I'm pretty sure that the bees we saw yesterday were a swarm that didn't originate from my apiary.  At 6:30 this morning when I left to go do my grocery shopping the bees were still there.  By 8am when I returned they were gone.  Looking into the hive they perched on overnight I saw that my hive was still full of bees, a much appreciated sight.  I added a third 8 frame medium super to it so they would have more room to expand.  This discourages swarming but we all know that Mother Nature rules and if they bees are going to swarm there is little, if anything, I can do about it.  Checking in on the other hive yielded similar results, they were doing fine as well. 

Both hives showed larvae at different stages and both capped and uncapped brood were present.  I did not hunt through all the frames in each hive for the Queen.  I am still gunshy from losing my Queens last year to do a lot of investigative work. 

I am going to be ordering more equipment for the two existing hives - more supers for honey, foundation for comb and frames to lay the foundation.  Additionally I will be ordering some equipment to have on hand in case I get a swarm fly by again this year.  I'd rather have to catch one just becuase it's there as opposed to having to catch one because one of my hives died.

Swarm of bees : #2 of the season

I haven't posted here this year because I haven't been in my hives that much.  I just know from last year that I was in the hives too often and probably messed things up by being so "proactive".  So I've been decidedly hands off this season, probably to the detriment of my hives.

Today one of two things happened.  1) My bees did a dry run swarm to the top of a 60 foot tree and then back to the hive.  2) A rogue swarm found my hive and decided to rest there while looking for a new palace for their queen.  After 12 hours, the bees are still there, and if they're still there in the morning I'm going to move them into a nuc until I can get more 8 frame mediums.

I have more pictures and video to post at a later time.  Right now I need to get to sleep so I can get up early and deal with this turn of events.