Tuesday, April 02, 2019

Droning on

I haven't slowed down today. During the morning, I covered a city council meeting and did two interviews.

After that, I headed into town to run some errands, each lunch, and attend a content meeting the paper. 

I delivered out signed tax returns to the accountant who is filing electronically and I stopped by the post office to mail the money we owed to the IRS. I paid extra at the post office to track the check. The postal clerk said she would require the person who accepts the parcel to send back a thumb as proof of delivery.

After lunch and the content meeting, I headed home to write. 

My head was buzzing so I decided to take a short walk before settling down in front of my computer. I noticed that the activity around one of the original hives was way down. I frowned. 

When I started back up toward the garden, I noticed Ol' Hook looking into the peach tree. He's deaf so I wasn't sure what had caught his attention. When I got under the tree I saw what he was looking at. It was another swarm of bees. 

We have now doubled our investment. 

Instead of writing, I had to swing into action to capture this swarm before they headed off into the woods.

Jilda was working and I knew she would have a hissy-fit if I tried to capture the swarm alone, so I called Samantha who lives next door. She sounded excited.

A few minutes later we had the camera set up and she was shooting video on my phone. The operation went seamlessly...I hope. If I go down in the morning and the bees are gone that means I didn't get the queen.

Putting the video together will take a little time. I'll post a link when it's ready.

This weekend, we will plant more wildflowers, clover, and other stuff bees love.

Sorry to keep droning on (pun) about bees.


  1. The bee stuff is very interesting. So the hive you spotted is not from the original bees you brought over?

    1. Yes. Both hives I got on the 16th have swarmed. The old queen hatched out a new queen and then leaves the old hive and takes part of the old bees with her.
      The new queen stays in the old hive with some of the brood and starts laying her own eggs for her new beefamily. That’s how I understand that it works.
      I plan to give all the hives room so they won’t be forced to split up again until next year.

  2. Amazing. Do queens happen 'accidentally' and take part of the present hive?.

    Amazing information. If this keeps up youwill have 20 hives? Sure maked the neophyte wonder...
    I know you will have it under control..

    Sherry & jack.. We had snow this AM here in NC.

    1. Joe had a similar question above but it should answer your question.
      It has been chilly here but it warmed up nicely yesterday.

  3. Keep writing about bees please. Adventure.

  4. Drone on. I find it fascinating.

  5. I'm glad you have the bees swarm under control. I'm happy to buy the local honey since you live so far away.
    Do you have any idea how much honey to expect from each hive?
    Hugs, Julia

    1. It depends on who you ask. I’m shooting for 80 pounds per hive. If I’ve done my math right this comes out to about 25 quarts per hive or 100 + quarts.
      I plan to offer smaller plastic honey bear containers for people who do not need as much.
      I’m making a lot of assumptions here. Namely that all hives will be productive and I won’t lose any bees to critters or mites.
      In the end, it’s like farming. I will probably have good years and bad.

  6. It seems that the bees have discovered a refuge. It reminds me of that old joke. C D BBB? M N O BBB. O S M R BBB. C? O I C D BBB! (Translation: See the bees? Them no bees. Oh yes them are bees. See? Oh I see the bees.)

    1. I’ve heard a similar joke but had forgotten it. It still makes me smile.

  7. yes, keep up the bee stories. I'm intrigued.

  8. I didn't realize there was all the bee catching with having hives...kind of a crazy beesniss! You're up to the task and I'm betting a very sweet return on all your work! Love hearing about this, so keep on droning!

  9. Sending back a thumb as prove of delivery sounds a bit much and painful and bloody, wouldn't a tumbprint be good enough

  10. I would have no clue how one takes that massive bee hive and place it in your controlled “box”. I can’t wait to see the video because, well, I have no clue. I actually would be running int the other direction. I know the Queen is bigger and it all deals with scents and how large the hive is...if I remember my animal shows. Please enlighten me if I am wrong. As for honey...yummy! I love honey and, if you suffer from allergies, take a small bit of honey with the honeycomb and eat a bit each day and this will calm down your allergies


Please consider sharing

Email Signup Form

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required