Thursday, March 28, 2019

Deep end

I was tossed into the deep end of beekeeping this morning. I thought I had time to learn some things and to assemble some new hive components. But that was not the case.

An early appointment had me on the road before 8 a.m. I ran the drive-through and picked up a McBreakfast before heading to my gig.

The speaker ran longer than I expected, but I was packing up my gear to head back home when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Jilda telling me that there was a swarm of bees as big as a basketball hanging on a lower limb of the peach tree. CRAP!!!!!!

On the way home, I tried the cell numbers of beekeeping mentors who help "newbees" (get the pun) catch swarms of bees. None of them answered.

As I was suiting up to go have a look, my cell rang. The beekeeper told me he'd carried a relative to the doctor and he would not be able to help. He did tell me what to do.

I shook the swarm into a five-gallon bucket. A while later after I'd assembled their new home, I walked over and dumped those babies into their new hive.

When I walked back down this evening, I didn't see any activity. I'm not sure if that's normal or if they decided to take their queen elsewhere. I'll know in the morning.


  1. Hope you write about what happened the next and next etc. day.

  2. Wow! I thought they just stay in the hive boxes or what ever they are and are happy. THis is getting interesting.

  3. These bees are going to keep you on your toes!!

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  5. We had a swarm of bees that formed in a very tall tree in front of our house by the river. They were so noisy. They had also all over my crabapple tree in the front yard. If the queen bee leaves in search of another hive, they follow and form a swarm.
    I made a post about that incident March 17, 2011. It was called "Bee Keeping Anyone?

    I'll keep buying my honey from our local beekeeper.
    Good luck with your beekeeping.
    Hugs, Julia

  6. Uh oh, now I know I don't want to bEEEE a BEE Keeper. I never thought of them leaving the hive, wondering to myself, WHY?

    We will 'bee' listening!
    Sherry & jack

  7. Good job! Bees are nothing to mess with!

    I hope they don't return for a vacation visit. We also get our honey for farmer's market. Good stuff.

  8. Wow. They look so interesting. I cant wait to hear what happens next.
    Awesome photo !


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